Senate to confirm ministerial nominees October

Ozekhome

may be tough on Buhari’s ministerial list – Ozekhome

As Nigerians await President Muhammadu Buhari to forward his list of ministers to the Senate this September, indications have emerged that the upper chamber would confirm the cabinet members from next month.

Although Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala Ibn-Na’Allah had

earlier told BusinessDay that the Senate would convene an emergency session to consider Buhari’s ministerial nominees, findings showed that this is no longer feasible considering the Sallah celebration observed by Muslims globally.

For legislators, the religious break offers them an opportunity to reconnect with their people, thus, they travel home to celebrate the festive period with their loved ones and feel the pulse of their constituents.

The Senate is expected to resume next week Tuesday – precisely September 29 – from its annual recess and confirm the ministers, which the president had promised would be released this month.

However, with the ordeal of Senate president, Bukola Saraki who is currently facing a 13-count corruption charge before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, political observers have fingered the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as being behind the case.

In a chat with BusinessDay, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, said, “President Buhari is simply begging for war” with the National Assembly.

In veiled reference to the president’s speech in France where he described ministers as noisemakers, Ozekhome believed Buhari “would have governed without ministers.”

This development, Ozekhome argued, is dangerous for the nation’s democracy.

“But for the clear constitutional provisions, he (Buhari) would have governed without ministers. That is a hangover of his military dictatorial tendencies. He may have it tough with the Senate. Remember PDP, even in majority in the NASS, gave bloody noses to Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, constituting itself into a virile opposition,” he said.

There are, however, concerns in some quarters that Saraki’s trial has caused a strained relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government, as the Senate may likely take their pound of flesh when the Presidency sends the ministerial nominees.

But Rafiu Ibrahim (APC, Kwara South), denies the claims, insisting that ministerial nominees would be considered on merit.

In a telephone interview with BusinessDay, he said: “We don’t have any problem with the ministerial list. We will consider the nominees on merit. It is difficult to bring up emotions and sentiments in the Senate because we have resolved to support all the policies that will make Nigeria better.

“And by the time the ministerial nominees come, we will attend to each and every nominee based on merit and their capability to serve Nigeria without prejudice to the norms and traditions of the Senate.”