Part of the conditions is that each nominee must enjoy the backing of at least two out of the three Senators from his or her state, while two third of Senators must give their endorsements at the end of each screening.
Advertisement
Barely 48 hours to the screen of 21 ministerial nominees by the Senate President Bukola Saraki the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will tomorrow begin investigations into petitions written against nominees.
“You will recall that this morning the Senate went into executive session; the executive session was primarily to develop a procedure for screening of ministerial nominees on Tuesday”. Among those sighted at the office in the National Assembly complex included, Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra state) Dr. Ogbonaya Onu (Ebonyi), Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano State), Audu Ogbeh(Benue State) Senator Udoma Udo Udoma(Akwa Ibom) Engineer Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa), and Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Edo State).
The source who is a top official at the EFCC said, “The office would start looking into the petitions written against the ministerial nominees on Monday”.
“The National Assembly also said it clearly that they were going to involve the anti-graft agencies in the issue of investigating the petition”. The other area of the constitution is that each state should produce a minister.
While speaking on the importance of the findings made by the 2015 post-election review committee of the PDP which he was a member, Shekarau said he is optimistic that the implementation of the key recommendations will go a long way in restoring the party’s lost glory.
“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerian that, that will not be the basis, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform”.
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Shehu Sani who represents Kaduna Central on the subject, he merely said “I’ll call back”.
“So, I don’t think Nigerians should expect anything less than what Mr President is already doing from that team”.
Efforts to speak to the Chairman, Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, on the issue were futile on Saturday, as calls and text message put across to his mobile phone number were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
The President told Reuters last week he would hold the petroleum ministry portfolio himself. We will all be screening from our bedrooms and sitting rooms along with the Senators.
In his condolence message, the Senate President described the late HID Awolowo as a mother for all, adding that that was why the 8th Senate passed a resolution, mandating a delegation to be led by the leadership, to pay a visit to the family.
Advertisement
“Additionally, the submitted resumes of candidates will be made available in the public space for Nigerians to examine”.
