The Senate on Thursday turndown the confirmation of Aliyu Saidu Abubakar and Pastor Ezekiel Yissa as stakeholder management and Non-Executive Commissioner of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) over lack of credible educational certificate.
The Upper chamber of the National Assembly affirmed the nomination of Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communication Commission (Governing Board of the Nigerian Communication Commission.
Other members of the NCC Governing Board confirmed by the lawmakers include Sunday Dare (Executive Commissioner) while Clement Omeiza Baiye, Chief Okoi ofem Obono Obia and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume were confirmed as and Non-Executive Commissioners.
The Development follows the consideration of the Senate committee on Communication report presented by its chairman Senator Gilbert Nnaji.
Senator Nnaji while presenting the Committee report said Aliyu Saidu Abubakar could not produce credible educational certificate for the Committee to verify at the screening. “He obviously lacks the professional and educational disciplines provided in section 7(1) (a-h) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 which stipulates the qualification of the Commission’s Board” Nnaji said.
He added that Abubakar obtained Police Extract and Court Affidavit both on 21st of September 2016 to cover for the loss of his School Certificates wherein he claimed that the documents got lost on 19th September 2016 well after he had been nominated as a Non-Executive Commissioner.
Senator Nnaji said the nominee only collected his diploma in computer studies completed at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in 2000 in September 2016. “For his Diploma in Computer Studies completed at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in 2000, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar ultimately collected the result in September 2016 because, according to him he did see any reason for its collection as he never intended to do any government job with it” Nnaji said.
He said Pastor Ezekiel Yissa educational qualifications were at variance with section 7(1) (a-h) of the Nigerian Communications Act. “As a career Nursing Officer, Pastor Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin’s educational qualifications are at variance with section 7(1) (a-h) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 which put a dent on his suitability for appointment as a commissioner on the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communication Commission” Nnaji said.
Nnaji further stated that vetting enquiries conducted on the remaining five nominees to ascertain their competence, credibility and suitability for the appointment as commissioners on the Governing Board of the NCC were favourable.
In his reaction Senate President congratulates those that their appointments were confirmed and urges them to use the period of their members of the Governing Board to move the Commission forward.
