Rep questions Senate’s delay in confirming FIRS boss

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 14.03.2008

A member of the House of Representatives representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon, has questioned the delay by the Senate to confirm the re-nomination of the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru.

She was re-nominated by President Umaru Yar’Adua in September 2007 and was screened by the Senate Committee on Finance, headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Though the Senate committee had submitted the report of the screening in October last year, the Senate is yet to consider the report six months after.

Obahiagbon, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said there had been an undue delay in the confirmation of Omoigui, adding that some forces opposed to the reforms brought about by the woman in the sector might have orchestrated the delay.

“The delay by the Senate in confirming the nomination of Mrs. Omoigui-Okauru, who is one of my constituents, has become an issue that must touch the sensibilities of the Senate leadership,” the legislator said.

He also said the achievements recorded by Omoigui at the FIRS had been well documented by the Senate committee which scrutinised her tenure, adding that it was on record that the woman had brought a regime of financial discipline to the administration of FIRS.