Drama As Senator Protests Tinubu’s Request For New MDGIF Boss’ Confirmation
The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Suleiman Kawu on Tuesday protested President Bola Tinubu’s request from the Senate to confirm the newly appointed Executive Director of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, MDGIF, in the Nigerian Midstream, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Oluwole Andama.
Tinubu had in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and read on the floor of the Red Chamber, requested the expeditious confirmation of the sacked Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera and Andama as the Executive Director of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund.
Irked by the President’s request, Senator Kawu raised a point of order, questioning the premature removal of the erstwhile Executive Director of the Midstream, Downstream, Gas Infrastructure Fund, Mansur Kuliya.
According to the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP lawmaker, the sacking of Kuliya as Executive Director of the agency is unlawful, as he was not allowed to complete his five-year term, which began in 2022.
He said: “It is a Constitutional Order which is very common to us at the National Assembly. Under Section 4, we are vested the power to make laws for Nigeria.
“Based on this power vested in the National Assembly, if we can remember the last assembly, the 9th Assembly, passed the Petroleum Industry Act which was one of the marvelous exercises of this legislative house.
“Somebody from my constituency was appointed Executive Director and the appointment is for a term of five years in accordance with the provision of section 34 (2), 5 and section 36 (1) of the Petroleum Industry Act.
“This started in March 2022 and it was the Senate who confirmed him and there are so many provisions in the Act that if for any reason, he will be removed or replaced, there must be a process and a procedure in line with our laws and constitutions.
“Therefore, I’m drawing the attention of the Senate that the appointment or the gentleman who is serving his term, was not served with any letter of disengagement or there was no correspondence from anybody but he just heard that he was removed.
“We made this law, it is our responsibility to respect it.”
Responding, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, referred both requests by the President to the Senate Committee of the Whole and the Committees on Gas and Downstream Petroleum to complete Adamu’s screening within one week.
Akpabio urged the committees to look into Kawu’s claims and make recommendations to the Senate for further legislative action.
He said: “The two Committees on Gas and Downstream, when you are deliberating, please take cognisance of his point of order
