Ministers: Buhari picks Lai Mohammed, Fashola, Fayemi, Amaechi, 17 others
…Saraki reads out names, as screening holds Tuesday
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NIGERIA: SENATE President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday read out the names of the 21 ministerial-nominees forwarded to the Senate for screening and confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari, on the floor of the Upper Chamber.
Saraki said that the President has asked him and fellow senators to screen the All Progressive Congress spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kwara), ex-governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos) and his Rivers counterpart, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Others are Chris Ngige – Anambra, Dr. Kayode Fayemi- Ekiti, Abdulrahman Danbazau – , Aisha Alhassan – Taraba, Ogbonaya Onu – Ebonyi, Kemi Adeosun – Ogun, Abubakar Malami (SAN) – Kebbi, Senator Hadi Sirika – Katsina, Barrister Adebayo Shittu – Oyo, and Suleiman Adam – Jigawa.
Also to be screened are Solomon Dalong – Plateau, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu – Delta, Osagie Ehanire – Edo, Audu Ogbeh – Benue, Ahmed Isa Ibeto – Niger, Amina Mohammed – Gombe, and Senator Udoma Udo Udoma – Akwa Ibom.
Saraki told his colleagues that the screening would commence Tuesday, next week, when all necessary documentations of the nominees, which included their resumes, would have been received by the Senate.
While responding to the list, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, praised the President for meeting the September submission deadline he promised, but demanded to know when the remaining list of the nominees would be forwarded to them.
Saraki said that Buhari, in his letter, had promised to send the remaining names soon.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday submitted the list of the ministerial nominees to the Senate at the time the Upper Chamber had embarked on recess.
But as at the close of plenary on Tuesday preceding the submission date, the Senate said it had not received the expected list from the president, who just returned that Tuesday after his trip to New York where he attended the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.
As at the close of legislative business on Wednesday, contrary to expectation, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, did not read any letter from the President forwarding the names of the would-be ministers.
Responding to the development, the Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Information, Senator Dino Melaye, confirmed that the President was yet to send the list to the lawmakers who are expected to screen the nominees and approve their candidature.
He said that there were still more hours to go, thus the president could still submit the list.
The Upper Chamber spokesman assured that whenever received, the Senators would attend to the list with proper screening and the urgency required, apparently referring to the dealy since President Buhari took oath of office on May 29, 2015.
But by last Wednesday, the duo of the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Abba Kyari, and the Special Adviser to Mr. President on National Assembly (Senate,) Senator Ita Enang, submitted the ministerial list to Saraki.
Saraki, however, on his tweeter account, and his Facebook, confirmed the receipt of the list.
He said: “About an hour ago, I received the list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and Special Adviser to Mr. President on National Assembly (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang.”
Saraki also tweeted: “I can now confirm that I just received #Thelist of Ministerial nominees,” while earlier he had tweeted: “As at 4pm Senate is yet to receive #TheList. Once it is received, SP @bukolasaraki has assured Senate will follow due process in screening.”
The list may not be made known by Saraki, as the Senators who had earlier in the day embarked on recess to observe Independence Day, would not resume until Tuesday, next week.
