Wonders Shall Never End:::Father And Son Appointed As Chairman And Managing Director Of Fed. Govt. Agency

Senate queries minister over Gemade, son’s appointments in FHA

Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja - 28.05.2009

THE Senate has summoned the Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Hassan Lawan, to appear before it to explain how a father and son were appointed Chairman and Managing Director respectively of a single federal agency.

It alleged that Chief Barnabas Gemade, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was appointed as the chairman of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Board and his biological son, Mr. Tever Gemade, an architect, as Managing Director of the same agency, believing it ran foul of the constitution.

The minister is to appear on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at the Hearing Room 107, Senate New Building by 1.00 p.m. The invitation was sequel to a letter by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Ikechukwu Obiora, that the minister should explain if such appointment complied with the federal character principle enshrined in Section 14.3 of the Constitution.

The letter with reference number SS/S/COH/20/02/Vol.1/31 and dated Tuesday 26th May, 2009 reads in part: “I write to invite you to appear before the Senate committee on Housing and Urban Development to explain whether the appointments of Chief Barnabas Gemade as Chairman of the FHA Board and Architect Tever Gemade, as Managing Director of the same Agency, both of whom are from the same family, comply with the federal character principle enshrined in Section 14.3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The meeting will hold on Tuesday 2nd June, 2009 at Hearing Room 107, Senate New Building at 1.00 p.m.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/28052009/news/news7.html