ICRC Appointment: Senate Sets Condition For Approving Buhari’s Nominee | READ DETAILS

The Senate has asked presidential nominee as substantive Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Joe Anekhu Ohiani to supply documentary evidence of his primary school education before his appointment can be endorsed.

This was as the Senate through its Committee on Works on Tuesday began the screening of the Presidential nominee in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

While the lawmakers were satisfied with other credentials of Ohiani who currently serves in acting capacity, the Senate panel insisted he provided his primary school documents.

Trouble began after Ohiani in his opening statement told the lawmakers that he did not finish his primary school education and that he skipped primary 5 after he wrote and passed his Common Entrance into secondary.

Apart from the hurdle of providing evidence of his primary school; Ohiani also had to respond to probing questions from one of the lawmakers on how he had allegedly been forced to compromised a few times against his professional judgements on matters.

Ohiani denied the allegation explaining to lawmakers the integrity tests businesses must pass through in ICRC before he can attest his signature to them.

He however explained that nothing is cast on stone and that sometimes especially after a client as effected noted corrections, the commission could revert its stance on an earlier decision.

Ohiani is a trained lawyer from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He’s also an admirably schooled financial administrator as well and had served in various Presidential committees.

As a pioneer staff of ICRC, he boasts of cognitive experience to required to steer the ship of the agency.

Nigeria has a huge infrastructure deficits and to make up for the shortfall, the country has expanded its total debts to the tune of roughly N51 trillion albeit with little to show for it.

Speaking Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Adamu Alierio said ICRC will have to come forward with brilliant strategies for concessioning that can help turn around the economy.

Anything short he said will plunge the country and its ailing economy into more debts.

According to Aleiro, the Senate has removed all encumbrance hitherto limiting the abilities of the commission to effectively hit the ground running with last week’s passage of the ICRC establishment bill.

In his response, Ohiani shared a few insights into what he hopes to achieve if given the job.

He said he has penciled down 53 infrastructure projects worth $80 billion. The projects include six standard hospitals in each of the geo-political zones which he hopes will drastically reduce medical tourism.

He said the ICRC under his watch will also create Mobile Medical Units that will take health care treatment to the nooks and crannies of the country.

Ohiani is upbeat that with Lekki Deep Seaport near completion and that of Badagry Seaport coming soon after, the problem of congestion that have made it difficult for businesses to thrive will be reduced if not completely eliminated.

He shared similar roadmaps on roads, ICT and the needs for Smart Classrooms for students, e-library and in the aviation section he hopes to bring to fruition if appointed.

But in the time being he has to first present evidence he attended primary school.