As Buhari arrives, Senate resumes trench war with Presidency

The combatants would not even let President Muhammadu Buhari settle in before opening a battle-line over instructions issued by the Vice President that some presidential nominees resume in acting capacity until they are confirmed by the Senate.
But the Upper House countermanded the presidency Saturday night  and warned the men not to go near their desks until cleared by it.
In a statement last night, the Senate warned the nominees into the headship of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) whose names were recently announced not to resume work until their nominations are confirmed in accordance with the provision of the constitution and the establishment laws of the affected institutions.
The nominees affected by the Senate directive are Alhaji Ali Usman who has been nominated to become the Director General of the PenCom, Dr. Mohammed Isah nominated as chairman of the CCB, and Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the chairman nominee of the ICPC.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate noted that: “The leadership of the Senate has been inundated by enquiries from individuals from across the country who want to know whether the statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the effect that the nominees into the headship of PenCom, Code of Conduct Bureau and ICPC should resume work immediately pending their confirmation by the Senate was as a result of an understanding between the executive and the legislature.
“We will like to advise the Acting President who was quoted to have given the directive for the resumption of the nominees that the directive was illegal and not right. The Senate will not support any action that is not in line with the law.
“We advise the nominees to hold on until they are cleared by the Senate as required by the law before resuming in their respective offices. We do not want anything that will cause any problem between the executive and the legislature”, Abdullahi stated.
As Acting President, less than 24 hours ago, Yemi Osinbajo directed the three men to resume.
In a statement, the Office of the acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Dr Habiba Muda, said the directive was to ensure that there is no vacuum in the institutions.
Others affected by the directive at the Pencom were Alhaji Ali Usman Ahmed Acting Chairman, Mr. Funso Doherty Acting Director-General and the four acting executive commissioners Mr. Manasseh T. Denga, Abubakar Z. Magawata, Ben Oviosun and Nyerere Anyim.
Other nominees for the CCB are Dr. Muhamma Isah Acting Chairman, and the nine members of the bureau board comprising Murtala Kankia, Emmanuel E. Attah, Danjuma Sado, Ubolo I.
Okpanachi, Ken Madaki Alkali, Prof. S. F. Ogundare, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, Saad A. Abubakar, and Dr. Vincent Nwanli.