Senate confirms Mahmood Yakubu for second term as INEC boss

The Senate has confirmed Mahmood Yakubu for a second term as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Red Chamber confirmed Yakubu for a second term of five years following the adoption of a report of Senate Committee on INEC during plenary on Tuesday, December 1.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Kabir Gaya said the nominee possesses the required qualifications, has a high level of intelligence, is not affiliated in any political party, is a person of integrity and has not campaigned for any political party.

The committee then recommended his confirmation. Senators mostly from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supported his nomination. As a result, it was unanimously approved by the chamber.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on the 24th of November, asked the red chamber to confirm Yakubu as the INEC Chairman.

On November 27, the committee screened Yakubu where he explained that the inability of politicians to keep their campaign promises contributed to low turnout of voters during elections.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has stated the Federal Government conceded about N1.024 trillion import duty waivers, concessions, and grants to drive economic growth in the country in the past three years.

Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning made this known at a one-day sensitisation on Digitisation of Import Duty Exemptions Certificate (IDEC) on Monday, November 30, in Kano.

The minister, represented by Shehu Na-Allah Kura, the Kano State Commissioner of Finance said the waivers were granted to businesses and corporate organisations between 2011 and 2015.

Zainab Ahmed said: “For the records, between 2011 and 2015; government conceded about 1.024 trillion through the grant of only four types incentives, namely:

“Import duty waivers, concessions, grants N503.587 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) waiver N227.789 billion.

“Pioneer status on non-oil companies N73.511 billion and Pioneer Status PPT on oil companies N219.545 billion.”