The senate has confirmed Anthony Ayine as the new Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF).
Senate President Bukola Saraki had, on December 13, 2016, read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari nominating Ayine for the position.
Ayine’s confirmation was not without some bickering among some senators.
On the floor of the Red Chamber, while considering the report to confirm Ayine, Binta Garba, senator representing Yobe north, kicked against it by saying he was on level 14, and needed to be on level 17 to qualify as the auditor-general.
Garba also alleged that Ayine was related to Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Service of the fFederation, and that this negated the principal of federal character.
Godswill Akpabio, senate minority, opposed Garba, saying the lawmakers were not considering a promotion but a nomination.
“It is not a promotion, it is a nomination by Mr. President. It was advertised and he came out tops,” Akpabio said.
Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, put it to a voice vote, and Ayine was confirmed.
