Senate President Bukola Saraki has announced the reshuffling of the leadership of the senate’s standing committees.

Saraki said the reshuffling was an outcome of some “decisions made in some executive sessions.”

In the announcement made during plenary on Thursday, Senator Kabiru Marafa is now Chairman, Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum. He was the chair of the Committee on National Population. Marafa is a known critic of the senate president.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who chaired the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, is now the chairman of the Committee on Environment. Senator Garba Binta Masi is to take over as the chairman of the Committee on Women Affairs.

Senator Babajide Omoworare was moved from the Committee on Rules and Business to the Committee on Legislative Compliance. Senator Baba Kaka Garbai takes over from Senator Omoworare as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business.

Those also appointed as chairmen of committees included: Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senate Committee on Customs; Senator Adamu Aliero, Committee on Aviation; Senator Jibrin Barau,Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund; Senator Joshua Dariye, Committee on Public Procurement and Senator James Manager, Committee on Solid Minerals.

Others were Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Committee on Power; Senator Suleiman Adokwe, Committee on National Orientation and Information; Senator HunkuyiSuleiman, Committee on National Identity and Senator Kaura Tijjani, Committee on Federal Character.

Saraki also announced the appointment of Senators Phillip Tanimu Aduda, Ahmed Ogembe and Ovie Omo-Agege as the vice-chairmen of the committees on upstream petroleum, marine transport and land transport respectively.

In another development, the Senate President has restated his loyalty and commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), this being the second time he has professed his unalloyed stand to the ruling party.

A statement from his office this afternoon, he said: “The attention of the Senate President’s Media Team has been drawn to a false publication that is making the rounds on social media that Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has defected from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

“This fabrication is entirely untrue as the Senate President stands committed to the APC; a party that he helped midwife and worked for its victory in the 2015 elections.

“In his official capacity as Senate President and chairman, National Assembly, he attended the end of session event of the PDP caucus yesterday evening and spent only 30 minutes before leaving the members to continue with the event.”

The statement added that “the Senate President would like to assure every Nigerian that he is committed to the APC-led government and appreciates the confidence reposed in him and the APC during the 2015 General Elections.”

•Additional reports from The Guardian. Photo shows Senate President Saraki.

Update news