Senators seek strict screening of ministerial nominees

The Senate on Wednesday commenced its valedictory session to mark the close of the Sixth Senate, with a focus on how to strengthen the country’s democracy.
The new federal cabinet being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan came under scrutiny, as the senators in their remarks, warned that only a formidable cabinet could actualise Jonathan’s transformation agenda.
The senators insisted that the Seventh Senate must ensure that nominees for ministerial positions were thoroughly screened in order to ensure their fitness to fill the positions.
Senator Ahmed Lawan, in his valedictory remarks, said since the President was looking towards transforming the country, he should ensure that credible and competent people were appointed.
He noted that the Senate must ensure that only qualified nominees were allowed to pass through screening and confirmation.
He said, “I suggest that the incoming Senate should not allow those who are not qualified to be screened or confirmed. The era of ‘bow and go’ should be abolished if we must have a formidable cabinet.”
Lawan also said that since the states were closer to the people, the coming National Assembly should ensure that the relevant laws are amended to give more monies to the states.
Also, Senator Osita Izunaso said the new ministers should be screened thoroughly.
He went further to urge the President to submit the portfolios of the nominees to the Senate along with the nominations so that the Senate could do specific screening for each nominee.
Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olorunibe Mamora, who earlier raised the issue of strengthening the nation’s federalism, argued that the National Assembly should also have the powers to create local governments.
He said that more funds should be given to states so that the people could be reached with the needed development.
Some senators spoke of the achievements of the Senate, noting that the Sixth Senate had a lot to be proud of.
Deputy Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, lamented the high turnover of senators, saying that Nigerians were losing so much to the development.
He said the Senate was largely misunderstood and misrepresented, and called on senators to engage their constituents more in information sharing.
Minority Leader, Maina Lawan, said that although the Senate had made a number of achievements, there was room for improvement, especially in seeing that chairmen of committees work more closely with other members of their committees.
By Oluwole Josiah, Abuja               Courtesy Of: Punch