AISHA BADEJI
SENATE CONFIRMS HASSAN AS HAJJ COMMISSION CHAIR, OBIORA AS CBN DEPUTY GOV.
The Upper Chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly, on Thursday, confirmed the nomination of board members of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan had on December 3, 2019 read a request from President Muhammadu Buhari requesting the confirmation of appointment of the Chairman and other members of NAHCON. The request was contained in a letter dated November 28, 2019.
The names of the nominees confirmed at the Thursday’s plenary session are: Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan, Chairman, Osun State, South West; Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa, Executive Commissioner- Operations, Inspection and Licensing; Nura Hassan Yakassai, Executive Commissioner – Policy Personnel, Management and Finance, Kano State, North West and Sheikh Momoh Suleman Imonikhe, Executive Commissioner, Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library, Edo State, South-South.
Part-time members are: Halimat Jubril, Niger State, North Central; Abba Jato, Borno State, North East; Garba Umar, Sokoto State, North West; Ibrahim Ogbonnia Amah, Ebonyi State, South East; Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa, Delta State, South South and Akintunde Basirat Olayinka, Ogun State, South West.
Representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are: Shehu Dogo, Ministry of Aviation; Nura Abba Rimi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Rabi Bello Isa, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Zainab Ujudud Sherrif, Ministry of Health; Aminu Bako Yarima, Nigeria Immigration Service and Ibrahim Ishaq Nuhu, Central Bank of Nigeria; Dr Bala Muhammad, Representative of Jama’atul Nasril Islam and Yusuf Chinedozi Nwoha, Representative of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
While congratulating the nominees, the Senate President urged the Commission to reduce the cost involved in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
‘’Let me also congratulate those who are being confirmed. The Hajj Commission is waiting for them to kick start the process of this year’s Hajj. They have to hit the ground running, they have no time to waste.’’
‘’We are praying that the Commission is able to do that because the cost of Hajj fare has been on the high side, and therefore, we are praying that this year’s Hajj will be cheaper than the previous rates’’ , Lawan said.
In a related development, the Senate also confirmed the appointment of Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Obiora was confirmed after the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions by its Chairman, Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central).
