Senate Screens South-West Development Commission Nominees

The Senate has screened all 18 nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the Chairman and members of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC).

The Senate, during the screening exercise on Wednesday, urged the nominees to fulfill the Commission’s mandate while managing the affairs of the establishment, ensuring it achieves its intended purpose as outlined by the current administration.

‎Seaking during the screening session at the National Assembly Complex, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-West Development Commission, Senator Yunus Akintunde, emphasized that the process was guided by Sections 147-151 of the amended 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Orders, and the principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness.

Akintunde informed the nominees that the Commission’s budget is primarily a take-off grant and not its capital budget, stressing the importance of effective management to fulfill the agency’s mandate.

‎”You have a take-off grant. This means that the responsibility lies with the management and the board. You are entering a special session as the pioneer group, which comes with unique tasks. I trust that God will assist you.”

Senator Akintunde noted that the SWDC Chairman-designate, Olubumi Adetunbi, would not be subjected to questioning, considering his past service as a Senator in two different assemblies.

The following nominees were screened and are pending confirmation by the Senate in plenary:

Senator Olubumi Adetunbi (Ekiti State, Chairman)

Dr. Charles Akinola (Osun State, Managing Director)

Alhaji Lateef Ajijola Oladimeji, Executive Director, Social and Human Capital Development (Ekiti)

Tele Ogunjobi, Executive Director, Finance (Ogun)

Adefumilayo Tejuosho, Executive Director, Corporate Services (Lagos)

Fatai Ibikunle Bayonne, Executive Director, Environmental Development (Oyo)

Other screened nominees as members of the South-West Development Commission include:

Hon. Scholastica Olanike (Osun)

Bolaji Idris Ariyo (Lagos)

Joseph Akin Olugbenga (Ekiti)

Oluwamuyiwa Timothy Olabintan (Lagos)

Dr. Adewinle Olayinde Martins (Ondo)

Dr. Ibrahim Adeniyi Olaifa (Oyo)

Kabiru Ado Lakwaya (Kano)

Abdul Biu Adamu (Borno)

Mr. Akinola Fagbemi Benjamin (North-Central)

Ukoha Onyekwere Michael (Abia)

Engr. Hanachor Alwell Owhorle(South-South), and

Olusegun Joshua Olufehinti (South-South).