Senate supports call for appointment of FCT indigenes as ministers

The Nigerian Senate has supported the call for the consideration of FCT indigenes, in ministerial appointments. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Ayo Akinyelure disclosed this while presenting the report of the committee on a petition forwarded by the FCT senator, Philip Aduda.

Ayo Akinyelure recommended that based on the decision of the Court of Appeal and pursuant to the provision of Section 299 and section 147 (3), the Senate should give approval for the “President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to appoint an indigene of the FCT as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The appeal court in Abuja had on January 15, 2018, ruled that indigenous inhabitants of the FCT are entitled to a ministerial representation in the Federal Executive Council as provided in Sections 147(3), 299, 14(3) and 42 of the 1999 constitution.

Senator Philip Aduda had petitioned the Senate following President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of 43 Ministers in July 2019, without any indigene of the FCT.