LESS than 24 hoursafter theappointment of 1,070 political appoimtees, including 24 Directors-General (DGs), by the Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, the state House of Assembly, on Tuesday, questioned the appointment of the DGs without its approval and set up a committee to find out if the appointment of the DGs was constitutional.Raising the issue of the appointment on the floor of the assembly under matter of public importance, Honourable Dayabu Chiroma, representing Darazo state constituency, stated that the assembly had approved the governor's request for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers, "but in his announcement yesterday (Monday), there were 24 Directors-Generals besides the 20 Special Advisers."He said that in carrying out its oversight function, the asembly could not stop the governor from appointing political aides, declaring however, that "but we have a constitutional duty to regulate such appointments, because they have to be paid from Consolidated Funds."He, therefore, called for explaination on the appointment of the Director-Generals by the governor.After deliberating on the matter, the asembly set up a seven-man committee to be chaired by Honourable Abdulmumini Hassan Ningi, representing Ningi state constituency, to look into the matter and to submit its findings to the committee of the whole House tomorrow.Reaction to the issue, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Yusuf Musa Gumli, told journalists in his office that the appointment of the Director-Generals by the governor was different from that of Special Advisers, saying that "all of them are to assist the governor in his duties.''He said "the appointment of Director-Generals was made in the interest of the state."Meanwhile,THE Ondo StateHouse ofAssembly, on Tuesday, cleared and confirmed the 16 commissioner-nominees sent to it by the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.Those that were screened by the lawmakers included Mr Kayode Akinmade; Sola Ebiseni; Yekini Olanipekun; Akin Adaramola; Igbekele Daodu, Nicholas Tofowomo, Margret Akinsuroju, Remi Olatubora and Yinka Alabi.Others were Deji Falae, Tayo Oluwatuyi; Dr Dayo Adeyanju, Lasisi Oluboyo; Ademola Olorunfemi; Taye Akinyele and Tayo Akinjomu.The commissioner-nominees had, on Monday, faced the screening committee headed by the deputy speaker, Honourable Dare Emiola.Emiola said the credentials of the nominees were painstakingly perused, adding that they were discovered to be qualified to be made commissioners.He advised the House to confirm their appointments, because the committee found out that the state governor did a good job by putting together competent indigenes of the state.The lawmakers were said to have checked the certificates presented by the nominees, who were also said to have been interviewed on their vision for the development of the state.However, on the floor of the House, on Tuesday, two of the nominees that were former members of the House, Olanipekun and Olatubora, were asked to take a bow and leave, as a mark of honour for them.Speaking after the confirmation, the speaker urged the nominees to use their wealth of experience to contribute to the development of the state.He also said they should try as much as possible to use their various ministries to facilitate the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
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