A fresh crisis between the Presidency and the Senate is unfurling with the alleged brazen appointment of a Director-General for the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, without resort to the Senate that should ratify it.
Relying on Section 8(1) of the National Lottery Act 2015 that stipulates that there shall be a director-general to be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye, raised a Point of Order, Wednesday, querying the Presidency’s action.
Describing the matter as weighty constitutionally, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, frowned at the development.
His words: `We have to check if truly whether this gentleman has decided on his own to disregard the law and resume and if that is what he has done, I am sure when that attention has been communicated to him, he will stop that nonsense and wait for confirmation.
“The Leader of the Senate should confirm whether what Dino has said is the truth.
“The law which I have is very clear and we must ensure that we seem to be doing the right thing and should wait for his confirmation before resuming.”
Melaye had noted that it was sad that the new director general was appointed by the President and resumed office without being confirmed.
He added, “He has started signing documents and carrying out functions of the office of the director general of the commission without referral or confirmation by the senate.
“We have a list of the likes of the D-G of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission waiting for Senate’s confirmation. The executive arm of government cannot choose which law to obey or which not to obey.
“Why will there be selective respect for the Rule of Law. The Rule of Law must be respected. It is safer to be loyal to the people of Nigeria than to be afraid of the rod of EFCC or the executive.
“We must stand on the truth and we must communicate this misbehaviour and rascality to those concerned,” he said.