Urum Kalu Eke, an Abia State citizen, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu to join the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Board of Directors, but the Senate announced on Thursday that Eke had rejected the appointment.
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu’s submission of the appointments of four additional CBN board members has been approved by the Senate.
Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu were among those confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as Directors.
The confirmation followed the review of a report on the nominee’s screening submitted by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru of the APC, Lagos East, as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions.
He said “the Senate do receive and consider the report on the confirmation of the nomination of the following Five (5) persons as members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria in accordance with section 6(1), (2) (d) and 10 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
He stated that Urum Kalu Eke from Abia was not cleared by the Committee since he did not show up for the screening.
Speaking on behalf of the candidate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North, informed the Senate that he had received a phone call from his constituent who had declined the offer because it interfered with his current position as a World Bank consultant.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier written the Senate, seeking for the screening and subsequent approval of five persons appointed as directors of the board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In the letter, Tinubu explained that his request was in compliance with the provision of section 6(1a) of the section 10(1)(2) of the CBN Act, 2007, said, “In compliance with the provision of section 6(1a) of the section 10(1)(2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) establishment act 2007.
“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the senate the appointments of the under listed five persons as directors of the board of the CBN.” As read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
