The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to immortalise the late national flag designer, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who passed away in Ibadan on August 29.
Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun, representing Oyo South, moved the motion, leading to a minute of silence in Akinkunmi’s honour.
The Senate urged the government to conduct a state burial to acknowledge his significant role in designing the national flag.
During plenary, the Senate dissolved into the committee of the whole to review the committee report on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FEMA).
The upper chamber approved the appointment of Engineer Chukwuemeka Agbasi as the Managing Director of FERMA, along with nine others as agency members.
In addition, the Senate President announced Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the new Minority Leader. Moro, representing Benue South, replaced Sen. Simon Nwadkwon of Plateau North, who was removed by the court on October 23.
An uproar ensued in the upper chamber when Sen. Osita Ngwu (Enugu West/PDP) was named Senate Minority Whip, replacing Sen. Darlington Nwokwocha from the Labour Party. Sen. Okechukwu Ezea from Enugu North objected, and Sen. Tony Nwoye of the Labour Party supported the challenge, highlighting the absence of Labour Party representation in the Senate leadership.
Following an intense argument, the President of the Senate upheld the majority decision in favour of the PDP for the position of Senate Minority Whip.
