• May reject incomplete list, screen Buhari for petroleum slot
• To refer corruption petitions against nominees to EFCC, ICPC

AS the Senate today, unveils the ministerial list it received from President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday, some senators have provided insight into how the screening and confirmation of nominees would be done.

Some of them, who spoke on the terms and conditions that would guide the screening at the National Assembly yesterday hinted that the upper legislative chamber would adopt stringent measures in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

The senators made it clear that any list that does not cover the 36 states of the Federation will meet serious opposition on the floor.

A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senator, representing Abia North, Mao Ohuabunwa, said the list of ministerial nominees is expected to be complete in line with the Constitution.

“The Constitution does not support appointment of ministers in batches. Every state must be represented but if the number is not complete, some of us may raise constitutional issues. If we have to wait for another three months for him to send another list comprising representatives of other states, it means those states would be non-functional,” he said.

On petitions against some nominees, Ohuabunwa noted such issues would not be ignored in the process of screening.

According to him, since the present administration of All Progressives Congress (APC) would want to be remembered for curbing corruption, it would be counter-productive to overlook any allegations of corruption leveled against any nominee.

He said: “This government would want to be remembered for fighting corruption and so, it will be unacceptable that the Senate sees a strong petition alleging corruption and ignores it.

“Even if it means writing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to give us a report, we will do so.”

According to him, screening is not a tea party and only trusted nominees with serious and in-depth knowledge would be confirmed.

On the issue of usual style of asking some nominees to ‘take a bow and go,’ Ohuabunwa said it was assumed that the upper chamber would be guided by the Constitution and the rules of the Senate.

“We have resolved to be stringent. Whosoever would be coming should be someone who has a track record. Being a former lawmaker shows you are qualified but you will still be expected to answer some questions,” he stated.

He added that though senators or governors may not have made input in the nomination, the screening would nevertheless be done in accordance with the laws of the federation.

“We may not have made input in the appointment, the screening would be done in accordance with the law and if any nominee has any skeleton in his cupboard, we will send him back to the President,” he said.

Speaking on a report that the President might want to be the Minister of Petroleum, Ohuabunwa said: “He can supervise ministries but cannot be a minister because if he is, he must be screened and approved by the Senate.”

The Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye had said that the screening of ministerial nominees will not be business as usual.

Dino had said: “In our screening of ministers, it will not be business as usual. The era of take a bow and go is over. The right people will be made ministers without any political or religious considerations.”

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/10/senators-give-terms-for-confirming-ministers/

If the constitution does not support appointing ministers in batches, l see no reason why it should be done in batches as we have competent persons in every state.

there is no sanity in the nation

Nigeria is a joke thou.

According to him, since the present administration of All Progressives Congress (APC) would want to be remembered for curbing corruption, it would be counter-productive to overlook any allegations of corruption leveled against any nominee.

I so love dis part, I guess Buhari has started wat he can't finish....2face don talk am since say nobody holy pass and no need trying 2 form dat He(Buhari)isn't corrupt kos he is......

Why in batches in the first place? Are the saints in other states yet to be born?

Dullard u they hear

“He (Buhary) can supervise ministries but cannot be a minister because if he is, he must be screened and approved by the Senate.”

Nigerians would prefer Buhary takes the role of Minister of Defense, being a retired general and lead the battle against the terrorist. (Forget the C-in-C story... )

Buhary, remove your eyes from the oil wells... at the expiration of the current licenses in 2016, the oil wells must be evenly distributed among Nigeria geopolitical zones. (We are watching...)

I pray dat our lives shld not b as stupid as buhari ministerial list

It seems Buhari has yet to learn the true Power of Presidency.


The constitution does not support appointing ministers by batch. They should show us where it is written that all ministers must be appointed once. Bunch of thieves.

Just ignore them and start using Permanent Secretaries in place of Ministers let their deputies act as the perm sec. Appoint trusted hands in the civil service as perm secs and communicate your economic policies to them
. Its not mandatory that you must have ministers.

When the whole country gets tired of the Senators we will demand for the quick confirmation.

Buhari, with this your list, I see little or no changes..


Most of them are just unbelievable..

Can't wait to see how this drama unfolds.

Pavore9:
If the constitution does not support appointing ministers in batches, l see no reason why it should be done in batches as we have competent persons in every state.

If everything will go constitutional, nobody would be left behind.

Yes Please! Chisel That Dullard's skul into place abeg! Show him what It means to be partisan...

Firefire:
“He (Buhary) can supervise ministries but cannot be a minister because if he is, he must be screened and approved by the Senate.”

Nigerians would prefer Buhary takes the role of Minister of Defense, being a retired general and lead the battle against the terrorist. (Forget the C-in-C story... )

Buhary, remove your eyes from the oil wells... at the expiration of the current licenses in 2016, the oil wells must be evenly distributed among Nigeria geopolitical zones. (We are watching...)

Individuals & portfolio companies are not even supposed to own oil wells, that is the corruption we are talking about...

The current composition of 75 or is 80% of wells being owned by northerners is a travesty & injustice as well..

The sane thing to do is to award them with the principle of federal character enshrined to real oil firms with real stake & expertise in the biz & not political associates....

Pavore9:
If the constitution does not support appointing ministers in batches, l see no reason why it should be done in batches as we have competent persons in every state.

There is no place in the constitution that says they must ALL BE PRESENTED AT A GO, constitution states 36 states & FCT....

There is no TIMELINE as well, he may decide to do it a month to handing over , the people who drafted the constitution dropped the ball real hard...

It is a deviation from the norm, that goes without question but it is not a breach of the constitution, they are just trying to make a storm out of a tea cup..

for what?

See Gobe, Ameachi n co don enter one chance. Buh dz z naija sha, dey wil corrupt d uncorrupt 2 becom corrupt free

modath:


Individuals & portfolio companies are not even supposed to own oil wells, that is the corruption we are talking about...

The current composition of 75 or is 80% of wells being owned by northerners is a travesty & injustice as well..

The sane thing to do is to award them with the principle of federal character enshrined to real oil firms with real stake & expertise in the biz & not political associates....

“There should be equity and federal character in the allocation of oil blocks in this country. Eighty-three per cent of all present oil blocks are held by northerners,” Enang said on the floor of the Senate, without any of the senior lawmakers contradicting him.

http://www.punchng.com/news/northerners-hold-83-per-cent-of-oil-blocks-senator/

Buhari sensing who understands the trend of oil well distribution and could pose a challenge, appointed Senator Ita Solomon as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to himself (Buhary) on National Assembly Matters (Senate), why ? you ask me ?


Buhari in his pursuit of protecting his fellow Northerner's interest will now make himself Minister of Petroleum...


Tonyebarcanista, can you remember our discussion in 2014 when you were supporting Buhari ?

If Buhari like, let him make himself LIFE Minister of Petroleum, what Nigerians want is the equal distribution of the oil wells among the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. (At the expiration of the current licenses in 2016) ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

https://www.nairaland.com/2147513/20-owners-richest-oil-blocks

This our senators are just too funny. They wanna tell me every1 on that list is corrupt.

Fine!

They shld also watch their backs cos " he without sin shld cast the first stone"

Same ol same..

It's not as though they stand on a morally higher ground than the nominees. Gerrarahere jor!

Buhari has breached the Constitution and should be impeached if he doesn't correct his mis-deed soon enough.
How dare you leave out 15 States in the submitted appointment of Federal Ministers when the constitution clearly stated that every state of the Federation must be represented.
Or are the 15 remaining states not in Nigeria?

Clearly, 21 is different from 36.

QUOTE ME ANYWHERE

Way past the September deadline already

modath:



There is no place in the constitution that says they must ALL BE PRESENTED AT A GO, constitution states 36 states & FCT....

There is no TIMELINE as well, he may decide to do it a month to handing over , the people who drafted the constitution dropped the ball real hard...

It is a deviation from the norm, that goes without question but it is not a breach of the constitution, they are just trying to make a storm out of a tea cup..

Though it is not stated that he should appoint all of them at a go,bt mere studying the constitution wil have save this argument..the constitution state minister must be appointed in all the 36 states of the federation...so if senate screen this 21 yet to be minister..what would be the fate of other states that does not have a rep yet??

@Firefire Buhari can even make himself to oversee finance ministry in addition to the petroleum sector. All I know is that he can't be there forever.

Some Senators are so dumb that you wonder how they got their SSCE. How can you say you want to screen a person that has been screened by millions of Nigerians and has been deemed fit and qualified to preside over them? Can we now say we can equate PDP and Dumbness? Na wa oo! One thing am sure of is that no one of them can dare PMB.

Since the present administration of All Progressives Congress (APC) would want to be remembered for curbing corruption, it would be counter-productive to overlook any allegations of corruption leveled against any nominee. Senate


Good morning Lalasticlala.

TonyeBarcanista:
@Firefire Buhari can even make himself to oversee finance ministry in addition to the petroleum sector . All I know is that he can't be there forever.

Buhari must be screened.