The Senate has approved the nomination of Abdullahi Saidu as executive chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, along with 17 other nominees to the boards of the FRC and the National Human Rights Commission.
The approvals came during Wednesday’s plenary, after lawmakers considered and adopted reports from the Senate committees on finance and on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, the Cable reports.
Presenting the report on the FRC nominees, the deputy chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Lere Oyewunmi, said the panel reviewed the nominees’ curricula vitae, educational qualifications and professional experience before recommending them for confirmation.
Oyewunmi, who stood in for the committee chairman, Sani Musa, said the screening showed the nominees had the experience and qualifications needed for their roles.
He said the committee was particularly impressed that the chairman and about four members had letters of attestation from their former workplaces, confirming their competence and suitability for the positions.
“The chairman, in particular, has some substantial experience in revenue administration, fiscal oversight, and governance reform and his last place of work was ICPC, where he equally chaired a very sensitive committee,” he said.
Oyewunmi added that the committee had no hesitation in recommending the nominees. The motion was seconded by Simon Lalong, who represents Plateau South, and who described the nominees as reputable people whose track records suggested they would perform well.
The Senate then resolved into a committee of the whole to consider the report, which was adopted by a voice vote conducted by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session. Jibrin congratulated the nominees and urged them to carry out their duties in line with the commission’s mandate.
In a separate report, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, presented the panel’s recommendations on nominees to the NHRC governing council.
Adegbonmire said the nominations were referred to the committee on April 28, 2026, and that screening took place on Tuesday.
According to him, the committee went through the nominees’ curricula vitae and supporting documents and was satisfied with their experience, qualifications, competence and exposure to human rights issues.
It recommended their confirmation as chairman and members of the council.
Ekong Samson, senator representing Akwa Ibom South, seconded the motion. He said members who took part in the screening agreed the nominees were fit to help strengthen human rights protection in Nigeria and he commended President Bola Tinubu for nominating what he called men and women of substance.
The NHRC nominees are Salamatu Suleiman as chairman, with Huwaila Ibrahim, Edmund Obiagwu, Ogunji Kingsley, Oluwakemi Asiawaju-Okenyodo, Adedeji Adekunle, Ayo Adewuyi, Mohammed Adelodun, Eze Anaba, Maupe Ogun-Yusuf and Patience Udoh as members.
The FRC nominees are Saidu as executive chairman, with Mohammed Mai-Eka, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Suleiman Gidado, Louis Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele and Olaniyi Onikola as members.
Senate approves FRC, NHRC board appointees
