Senate confirms Dahir-Umar as PENCOM DG amidst protest by minority caucus

The Senate, on Tuesday, confirmed the nomination of Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar as Director General (DG) of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

Other nominees confirmed are: Dr. Oyindasola Oluremi Oni (North Central) Chairman; Clement Oyedele Akintola (South West) Commissioner; Ayim C. Nyerere (South East), Commissioner and Charles Efe Sylvester Emukowhale (South-South) Commissioner.

• PENCOM: Senate Minority Caucus petitions screening panel, wants Dahir-Umar disqualified
• How PenCom DG nomination triggered controversy

The Red Chamber however stepped down the confirmation of Hannatu Musa (North West), Commissioner, for failing to submit her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

Their confirmation followed the consideration of the report of Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central).

The committee said the nominees possessed the requisite qualifications for the PENCOM job and therefore recommended their confirmation.

However, before the nominees were confirmed, the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe again protested against the confirmation of Dahir-Umar and urged the Red Chamber to revisit the controversy surrounding her nomination.

Umar, from the northeast, had been serving as DG of the agency in an acting capacity.

Abaribe, who represents Abia South, had earlier said Dahir-Umar’s nomination to replace the former Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu from Southeast was in breach of the Act establishing PENCOM.

Last week, the Senator also petitioned the screening panel, asking it to stop action that could lead to the clearance of Dahir-Umar as DG of the agency.

Abaribe cited section 20 (1) and section 21 (1) and (2) of the National Pension Commission Act 2014, which state that, “in the event of a vacancy, the President shall appoint a replacement from the geopolitical zone of the immediate past member that vacated office to complete the remaining tenure”.

He said the President has the right to appoint whoever he wills to occupy positions but such appointment should be done within the law.

Responding, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the section of the PENCOM Act cited by Abaribe did not apply to the current nominees.

He told Abaribe that there was no basis for his argument because the tenure of the board had lapsed before another nomination was made.