The Senate has called on the federal government to immortalise the late designer of the national flag, Taiwo Akinkunmi, who passed away on August 29 in Ibadan.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun of Oyo South moved a motion, prompting the Senate to observe a minute’s silence in honour of Akinkunmi.
The lawmakers also urged the federal government to conduct a state burial in Akinkunmi’s honour to recognise his significant contribution to the country’s national identity.
The Senate then dissolved into a committee of the whole to consider the committee’s report on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
Subsequently, the upper chamber approved the appointment of Engineer Chukwuemeka Agbasi as the Managing Director of FERMA and nine others as members of the agency.
During the plenary session, Senate President Ahmad Lawan announced the appointment of Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the new minority Leader.
Moro, representing Benue South, replaces Senator Simon Nwadkwon from Plateau North, who was removed from the position by a court order on October 23.
However, the announcement of Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West/PDP) as the new Senate Minority Whip, replacing Senator Darlington Nwokwocha of the Labour Party, sparked an uproar in the upper chamber.
Senator Okechukwu Ezea from Enugu North challenged Ngwu’s nomination, and his objection was supported by Senator Tony Nwoye of the Labour Party, who questioned the PDP’s dominance in the minority leadership, leaving the Labour Party without representation in the Senate leadership.
Following a heated debate, Lawan ruled in favour of the majority, which had voted in favour of the PDP’s candidate for Senate Minority Whip.
