Senate to Osinbajo: It’s improper to ask PenCom, ICPC nominees to assume duty

The senate has described as illegal the directive given to the nominees of Pension Commission (PenCom), Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Allied Offences Commission (ICPC) to assume duty before confirmation.

According to Bolaji Adebiyi, permanent secretary and director of press in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo gave the order on Friday.

But Aliyu Abdullahi, senate spokesman, said the nominees have to be confirmed in accordance with provisions of the constitution and laws establishing the agencies.

He said the leadership of the senate had been inundated with inquiries from individuals across the country on the issue.

“We will advise the acting president who was quoted to have given the directive for the resumption of the nominees that the directive was illegal and not right,” he said in a statement.

“The senate will not support any action that is not in line with the law.

“We advise the nominees to hold on until they are cleared by the senate as required by the law before resuming in their respective offices.

“We do not want anything that will cause problem between the executive and the legislature.”

The nominees affected by the senate’s directive are Ali Usman as director-general, PenCom; Mohammed Isah, chairman, CBB and Bolaji Owasanoye, chairman, ICPC.

The senate’s warning comes at a time when the row generated by the appointment of Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is yet to be resolved.

The upper legislative chamber had reject Magu twice but the executive retained him, while Osinbajo supported the view of Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, who said Magu did not need to be confirmed by the senate.