Senate Approves President Tinubu’s Request to Remove Irukera as FCCPC Boss

The Senate has approved the request of President Bola Tinubu to remove Babatunde Irukera from his position as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The decision was made following a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in which President Tinubu cited inefficiency as the reason for the dismissal.

According to the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the President needed the National Assembly’s approval to proceed with the dismissal of Irukera, in accordance with Section 8(1)(b) & (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act, 2018.

The letter read, “In accordance with the provisions of Section 8(2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Act 2018.

I hereby seek the kind confirmation of the Senate in respect of the disengagement from office of Babatunde Irukera as Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC with effect from January 8.”

After a brief deliberation, the request was put to a voice vote, where the ayes had it, and the Senate President hit the gavel to finalize the decision.

It is worth noting that in January, President Tinubu had initially sacked Irukera as the FCCPC boss and the Director-General/CEO of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alexander Okoh, with immediate effect.

However, the Presidency later clarified that the two heads of these federal government agencies were not technically “sacked” but rather “relieved of their duties.

” Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Irukera and Okoh were only relieved of their duties and that the search for their successors had already begun.

President Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the diligent service of these two individuals and thanked them for their contributions to the country.

As the Senate has now approved President Tinubu’s request to remove Irukera, the focus will now shift to the appointment of a new Executive Vice Chairman for the FCCPC to ensure the smooth functioning of the agency in the future.