Stop parading yourself as DG Lottery Commission, Senate tells Gbajabiamila

The Senate on Wednesday criticised the appointment of the Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, asking him, to stop parading himself without confirmation.

This followed a point of order raised by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) during the plenary.

Coming ​under order 43, Senator Melaye cited Section 8(1) of the National Lottery Act 2015 as stipulating that there shall be for the commission, a director-general whom shall be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

“It is sad to note that a new director general of the National Lottery Commission has not only been appointed by the President but he has resumed office without being confirmed,” he said.

According to Melaye, the DG has started signing documents and carrying out functions of the office of the director general of the commission without referral or confirmation by the Senate.

“We have a list of the likes of the DG of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission waiting for Senate’s confirmation. The executive arm of government cannot choose which law to obey or which not to obey.

“Why will there be selective respect for the Rule of Law. The Rule of Law must be respected. It is safer to be loyal to the people of Nigeria than to be afraid of the rod of EFCC or the executive.

“We must stand on the truth and we must communicate this misbehaviour and rascality to those concerned,” he said.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said “the issues were very weighty and were issues that bothered on the constitution, the Rule of Law and our democracy and how we practiced it.

“We have to check if truly whether this gentleman has decided on his own to disregard the law and resume and if that is what he has done, I am sure when that attention has been communicated to him, he will stop that nonsense and wait for confirmation.

“The Leader of the Senate should confirm whether what Dino has said is the truth”.

“The law which I have is very clear and we must ensure that we seem to be doing the right thing and should wait for his confirmation before resuming,” he added.