Senate approves nomination of Shaakaa Chira as Auditor-General for Federation

Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Mr Shaakaa K. Chira for appointment as Auditor-General for the Federation.

This followed the adoption of a motion by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) at the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday.

Presenting the motion, Bamidele urged the Senate to consider the request of President Bola Tinubu for the confirmation of the nominee for appointment as Auditor-General for the Federation.

Senate, prior to his screening and confirmation procedures suspended its rule to allow the admittance of the nominee and other guest into the chamber.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel led the nominee into the chamber.

Thereafter, the nominee took turn to give highlights of his career profile and professional experiences, before his eventual confirmation.

Chira in his brief remark decried the underfunding of the office of Auditor- General for the Federation.

He said the office was only allocated N62 million in the past budget.

He said the office required proper funding to discharge its audit responsibility to the nation.

President of the Senate, Sen.Godswil Akpabio said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was a corrective administration that was determined to correct the wrongs of the past.

He said the Senate and by extension the National Assembly has responsibility to keep the office of Auditor-General for the Federation alive for the purpose of transparency and accountability on the utilisation of public funds.

Earlier, former president of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan emphasised the need for the 10th Senate to ensure passage of the Federal Audit Bill, adding that its passage would empower the office of Auditor-General to function optimally in fight against corruption.