ABUJA – A presidential nominee yesterday, shocked Senate panel, when he declared that the red chamber should be scrapped to free the economy from unecessary wastage.

    Aliyu Saidu Abubakar (NE) who was being screened for membership of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), told the Gilbert Nnaji-led Senate Committee on Communications, that the cost of running the Senate was high and called for the scrapping of the institution.

    He decried a situation whereby the senators were paid huge transport allowances and still purchase expensive vehicles for the, saying that it would amount to economic loss to the nation.

    When confronted with several photographs where he variously led organized protests against the senate particularly at the gate of the National Assembly  recently, the visibly unrepentant Abubakar maintained that he had no regrets for his actions.

    Unruffled by senators’ bombardments, the nominee insisted that he was convinced that senate was an avenue for wastage of the country’s scarce resources.

    Meanwhile, the committee had earlier pointed out grave irregularities in the personal records of the nominee.

    Curiously aside Birth Certificate, there were only copies of court affidavit and police extract dated the same day, strangely after he had been nominated, claiming loss of his credentials.

    Also, his highest academic qualification was a one-year “Diploma in Computer” from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, of which the attached statement of result was dated 23rd September 2016, still after he had been nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    When asked to explain why he chose to present documents that were prepared shortly after his nomination and also why he believed that he was qualified to function as a National Commissioner in such a critical agency as NCC, given the challenges and required expertise, he said that he did not bother to go for the credentials because according to him he “only went to school merely for knowledge having been self-employed prior to the nomination”.

    One of the nominees and former member of the Senate, Sen. Bisi Durojaiye, had in an emotion-laden voice expressed deep concern over the present negative public perception of the senate.

    He added that as former senator, who also headed the committee on communications, he was committed and passionate for a very strong and prosperous senate.

 In his opening remarks, the chairman, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, urged the nominees to seek to add value to the regulatory agency and ensure that Nigerian masses got the greatest benefits of their appointment if scaled through.