•Senate president unveils 73 standing c’ttees chairs, deputies
•Adjourns plenary to September 26
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has named his predecessor, Ahmad Lawan as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence.
He is one one the 73 senators that would chair the various standing committees of the 10th Senate.
He made the announcement shortly before the red chamber adjourned plenary to September 26 to enable members to enjoy their annual long vacation.
Akpabio also announced his main challenger in the race for the 10th Senate Presidency, Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources.
Others who emerged committee chairmen are a former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal (Housing), and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole (Interior).
The list also included Sen Godiya Akwashiki (Airforce), Abdulfatai Buhari (Aviation), Osita Izunaso (Capital Market), Cyril Fasuyi (Establishment), and Seriake Dickson (Ecology/Climate Change).
The Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) would be chaired by the Senator representing Ondo North, Jide Ipinsagba while Aliyu Wadada would chair the Senate Public Accounts Committee.
Others are Shehu Kaka (Special Duties), Patrick Ndubueze (Works), Solomon Adeola (Appropriations), Mohammed Sani Musa Sani (Finance), and Abiru Tokunbo (Banking).
The new chairmen also included Isa Jubril (Customs), Elisha Abbo (Culture and Tourism), Victor Umeh (Diaspora), Lawal Usman (Education), Akintunde Yunus (Environment), Ibrahim Bomai (FCT), Sani Abubakar (Foreign Affairs), and Banigo Harry (Health).
The rest are Enyinaya Abaribe (Power), and Aliyu Wamakko (Local and Foreign Debts); Adamu Aliero (Land transport), Gbenga Daniel (Navy), Barinada Mpigi (Niger Delta), Mohammed Monguno (Judiciary), and Yemi Adaramodu (Media & Public Affairs, Youths and Sports).
Senator Ireti Kingigbe would chair the Women Affairs, Orji Kalu (Privatization), Mustapha Sabiu (Agriculture), Aliyu Bilbis (Communications) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (NDDC).
Akpabio had earlier announced Titus Zam as Chairman Rules and Business Committee and Opeyemi Bamidele as the Vice Chairman.
He had also, named Senator Sunday Karimi, as Chairman, Senate Services and Williams Eteng Jonah as deputy.
Ethics and Public Petitions is chaired by Okechukwu Ezea and Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha as deputy. The National Security and Intelligence Committee has Shehu Buba Umar (chairman) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (deputy).
Legislative Compliance panel is chaired by Garba Musa Maidoki, as Chairman and Ede Dafinone as deputy.
