A tough battle is said tobe unraveling in the Senate ahead of the composition of the standing committees, which could be announced any momentfrom now.
Senate President David Mark is said to have come under intense pressure from senators, most of whom are eyeing what is called ‘Grade A committees.’
The Senate has 54 committees with Mark having emerged as the chairman of the Selection Committee, which comprises the 10 principal officers.
Sources in the Senate confirmed to Sunday Tribune that an intense battle is ongoing over who chairs the prime committee of the Senate; the Appropriation Committee, which was last headed by Senator Iyiola Omisore from Osun State.
It was learnt that whileNortherners are pushingfor the chairmanship slot of that committee and are pushing forward Senator Badamosi Maccido, who was vice chairman of the committee in the last dispensation, senators from the South-East are also angling for the slot.
Former chairman of Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, who was a member of the Appropriation Committee in the last dispensation is said to have put himself forward as a candidate for the chairmanship of the committee.
Sources said the bid by Senator Eze has, however, been raising eyebrows with some senators from the South-East insisting that Enugu State shouldnot cart away every juicy post that would begiven to the South-East in the Senate. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is from Enugu State as Senator Eze.
But while the Northern senators are insisting on Appropriation and Finance committees, it was learnt that other geopolitical zones, including the North-Central and North-East, are also angling for the slot.
Other committees regarded as ‘Grade A committees’ include Senate Services, said tohave been reserved for a North-Central senator;National Security and Intelligence, Communications, Finance, Petroleum, Marine Transport, Agriculture and Public Accounts.
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