SENATE COMMENCES SCREENING OF MINISTERIAL NOMINEES
In response to the request of President Muhammadu Buhari of Tuesday, July 23, 2019 seeking Senate’s screening of confirmation of 43 Ministerial Nominees that would form the 2019 Cabinet of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Senate, in keeping with its promise of commencing the screening exercise of the Nominees in the next legislative date, has made good its promise as it has commenced the exercise in earnest on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.
Accordingly, the Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole to undertake the assignment. As many as ten Nominees were screened in the first day of the exercise. The question and answer session of exercise lasted for eight hours, from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Among the Nominees screened were:
- Ukechukwu Ogah – Anambra State
- Sen. George Akume – Benue State
- Sen. Godswill Akpabio – Akwa Ibom State
- Emeka Nwajuba – Imo State
- Hon. Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi – Rivers State
- Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu – Ebonyi State
- Sen. Adeleke Olurunimbe Mamora – Lagos
- Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite – Ogun State
- Malam Adamu Adamu – Bauchi State
- Sharon O. Ikeazor – Anambra State
Consequently, the screening of 33 Nominees is still pending before the Red Chamber. The exercise will continue on Thursday, July 25, 2019 according to the decision of the Chamber.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT Senate), Sen. Philip Aduda rose under Point of Order 43 to alert the Chamber that the FCT has no representative in the President Muhammadu’s recent Ministerial List sent to the Upper Legislative for screening and confirmation.
Concurring with the position of the FCT Senator, Sen. Dino Melaye (Kogi West) buttressed the position citing Constitutional Point of Order 297; said the FCT is recognized as a State under the Constitution and should be represented by a Minister of FCT extraction in nation’s cabinet which he said the President’s list has not done so.
Ruling on the matter, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan who presided over the session said he is was sure that the Executive Arm of Government is aware of the issue and would respond accordingly.