Saraki Reshuffles Senate Committees, Names Tinubu, Marafa, Others as Heads

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, reshuffled the composition of committees in the upper chamber.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Legislators who got the chairmanship of committees included Senator Kabir Marafa, who became the chairman of the Petroleum Resources Committee (Downstream) from the National Identity and National Population Committee.

Also, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was moved from Women Affairs Committee to the Committee on the Environment.

Senator Sulieman Hukunyi now heads the National Identity committee.

Other chairmen of committees are Senator Adamu Aliero (Aviation); Hope Uzodinma (Customs); Barau Jubril (Tertiary Institutions) and Binta Masi (Women Affairs).

The Public Procurement Committee now has as its chairman Senator Joshua Dariye, while Senator James Manager, who was chairman of the Committee on Power, has been moved to the Solid Minerals committee.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who was chairman, Committee on Information and National Orientation, has been moved to the Committee on Power, while Adokwe Suleiman is chairman, Information Committee.

The newly created Legislative Compliance Committee is to be headed by Senator Babajide Omoworare, who used to head the Rules and Business Committee, while the latter is to be headed by Senator Baba Garbai.

The Federal Character Committee has Senator Tijjani Kaura as its new chairman.

The senators, who were made vice-chairmen of committees, are Ahmed Ogembe (Marine Transport); Ovie Omo Agege, (Land Transport); and Philip Aduda (Downstream Petroleum).

Although the Senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi, said the latest arrangement was aimed at strengthening the legislative functions of the committees, it was learnt that the action was taken following two separate meetings on Monday between President Muhammadu Buhari and some ex-National Assembly leaders.

Those who attended the Monday meetings at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, included ex-Senate President David Mark, his predecessor, Ken Nnamani, as well as a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari.

Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, attended the meeting.