The Senate has confirmed Dr Badamasi Lawal as the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
The confirmation of Lawal’s nomination followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Investments during plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the report, Chairperson of the Committee, Sen. Idiat Adebule, said that during the screening of Lawal, he answered satisfactorily questions on topical issues related and not limited to social investments in the country.
“The nominee displayed competence and absolute knowledge on social investment concerns. He has the requisite qualifications and knowledge of the job,” Adebule said.
Supporting the recommendation made by the committee, Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau) said the nominee is “mentally alert and very responsible.
“I will like in as much as we are screening people, we should go beyond their qualifications and experiences, we should also determine how alert they are.
“This type of assignment that is national that has to do with Nigerians and selection of beneficiaries, we need people who are healthy and mentally sound.”
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said that the agency had been bedevilled with scandals in the last few months.
“I believe that his coming will put an end to all these. I wish him well on behalf of the 10th Senate,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President BolaTinubu had on Aug. 8, nominated Lawal for the position subject to Senate’s confirmation.
The new CEO of NSIPA was a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Katsina State.
Lawal replaced Halima Shehu, the former CEO of NSIPA, who was suspended by the President over alleged financial improprieties.