Senate confirms Aisha Dahir-Umar as DG PenCom amidst protest

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Aisha Dahir-Umar, as the substantive Director General of the National Pension Commission Board (PenCom) amidst protests from some senators.

Another nominee who was also confirmed by the Senate was Dr Oyindasola Oluremi Oni, from North Central as Chairman.

Also confirmed were Clement Akintola (South-West); Ayim Nyerere (South-East) and Charles Emukowhale (South-South), as commissioners of the PenCom board.

The Senate, however, rejected the confirmation of Hannatu Musa (North-West) because she was unable to present her discharge certificate from the National Youths Service Corps, (NYSC).

It will be recalled that members of the Minority caucus in the Senate last week sent a petition to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service, seeking the disqualification of  Dahir-Umar as the substantive Director General of PenCom.

Dahir-Umar who hails from the North-East geopolitical zone, until her confirmation on Tuesday, held the position in acting capacity.

The Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, had argued against Dahir-Umar confirmation, insisting that since her predecessor did not complete her tenure, the position should be occupied by somebody from the South-East, where Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, whose five-year tenure was truncated, hailed from.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while ruling on Abaribe’s argument, said the constitutional provisions relied upon by those who are kicking against the DG’s appointment was not valid because the tenure of  Anohu-Amazu’s board had expired before the appointment of Dahir-Umar.

President Muhammadu Buhari had penultimate week, sent the name of Dahir-Umar to the Senate, seeking the lawmakers’ confirmation for her to be the substantive DG and others, to the board of PenCom.