President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Senate to confirm the appointment of Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche as the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), alongside four nominees for the position of State Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Board.
Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday. The President emphasized the legal backing of the nominations, citing relevant sections of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, the 1999 Constitution, and the CBN Act.
“In compliance with Section 3(1)(b) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Act, 2019, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Mr. Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi as Controller-General, Nigerian Correctional Service,” Tinubu stated in the letter. He expressed hope for a swift confirmation process, after which Akpabio referred the nomination to the Senate Committee on Interior for further legislative review within one week.
Additionally, the President requested the screening and confirmation of four nominees for appointment as State Resident Electoral Commissioners in INEC. The nominees include Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano State), Saad Umar (Bauchi State), Chuwuemeka C. Ibeziako (Anambra State), and Mohammed Ngoshe (Borno State).
In his letter, Tinubu clarified that this nomination request supersedes a previous correspondence on the subject dated March 5, 2025, reaffirming the importance of filling these positions in line with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution.
Furthermore, Tinubu sought Senate approval for the appointment of Professor Melvin D. Ayogu as a member of the CBN Board of Directors. He noted that this appointment aligns with the provisions of the CBN (Establishment) Act, 2007, emphasizing that Ayogu’s inclusion would ensure the full composition of the board as stipulated by law.
The Senate is expected to deliberate on these nominations in the coming weeks, with lawmakers anticipated to conduct a thorough screening process before making their final decision.
