‘No Bow-And-Go Screening For Nominees’ As Senate Unveils Ministers Today

Barring any unforeseen development, the Senate is expected to unveil the list of ministerial nominees for the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari today.

An inside source at the Senate confided in NewsWireNGR yesterday that the much-protected list of nominees along with the cover letter as signed by Buhari had yesterday been transmitted to the Senate.

The documents were handed over to Senate President Bukola Saraki after plenary yesterday.

The president’s letter detailing the ministerial nominees came just as 83 senators passed a vote of confidence on the embattled Senate president, amidst drama that almost turned the plenary to a rowdy session.

The motion co-sponsored by 83 Senators made up of 48 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 35 members of the All progressive Congress (APC) signaled the beginning of the drama as senators struggled to outwit one another during the debate on the confidence vote.

An inside source at the Senate had also debunked the possible names on the president’s ministerial list, which were being speculated since the past days.

The source said it would be preposterous for anyone to categorically mention names as listed by the president, saying the list was being jealously guided by the Senate President in deference to Buhari’s that the content be made available only on the floor of the Chamber.

Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Ita Enang, reportedly handed over the list to the Senate President at the end of yesterday’s plenary.

However, the Senate has stated that ministerial nominees would go through a thorough screening exercise whenever they are called to appear for confirmation, adding that no one would enjoy the traditional courtesy of “bow and go” as previously observed in honour of former members of the Senate.

The Senate said it would allow merit and competence to guide it in the screening exercise, adding that it would not unnecessarily delay the screening exercise.

Senator Saraki had prepared the minds of his colleagues on the possibility of receiving the ministerial list while addressing the plenary on resumption after a six-week holiday.

In his welcome address yesterday, he said, “I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us.

“Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch and thoroughness.”