Following
a breach of the constitution, the Acting Secretary to Government of the
Federation (SGF), Mrs Habibat Lawal has asked the Senate for
forgiveness.
Acting SGF Habiba Lawal
The Acting Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mrs
Habibat Lawal, has apologised to the Senate for allowing the
Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, to assume
office without confirmation by it.
Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, in a Point-of-Order at
Thursday’s plenary, reported that the SGF made the apology through him
to the Senate, while he was investigating the “irregularity’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Senate had on
Wednesday, criticised the assumption of office by Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila,
in acting capacity, at the commission, without confirmation by the
chamber.
Consequently, the lawmakers mandated Lawan to investigate the matter, which was reported at the Senate by Sen. Dino Melaye.
The senate leader said that his investigation confirmed that
Gbajabiamila had actually assumed office, and without approval by the
Upper Chamber.
He said that though the acting director-general was nominated for
the position, he was not screened or confirmed, and had not received an
appointment letter from SGF’s office, but had assumed office.
“I investigated the issue. The nominee for the office of the
Director-General of the National Lottery regulatory Commission actually
assumed office.
“I think he was misadvised and therefore assumed office without going through the stipulated due process,’’ he said.
According to Lawan, I have spoken to all those who should know better, including the acting SGF.
He said that the executive had concluded that Gbajabiamila had
erred because probably, he did not get the correct briefing that he
should have waited until due process and diligence were completed.
“I believe that it was an error and there was a genuine appeal from the executive that no such thing will ever happen again.
“I advised the SGF that the nominee should not be seen within
the vicinity of the office of the SGF until he is confirmed and an
appointment letter is given to him,’’ he said.
The leader called on the executive to ensure that such matter never
happened again and that nominees eager to assume positions, to tarry
until due diligence was followed to its logical conclusion.
Reacting to the matter, Sen. George Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) said that
in spite of the fact that the explanation by the leader was clear, the
matter was complex and should not come under personal explanation but a
motion.
“This matter is a complex matter and according to the
point-of-order, it should not be a controversial matter, but you are
bringing a major controversial matter.
“Somebody is flagrantly violating the Constitution of Nigeria,
Section 5(1b) and you just bring it under personal explanation and he
finished talking and sat down as if nothing has happened.
“It is a major issue. I am saying for caution, next time issues of this nature should not come under personal explanation.
“They should look for other orders to bring the matter so that it is open to us for debate,” he said.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said
that the leader had done a very thorough job in that he had responded
promptly.
“First of all, to establish that the point raised by Sen.
Melaye was factual and that he got the assurances that this kind of
thing must be stamped out and does not occur again.
“The nominee has erred, probably misguided but definitely, he must not be seen reporting for duty in that area.
“For nominees and the executive, they must respect our laws and
processes and even if a nominee is unaware, somebody must guide him.”
-NAN
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