After the frustration from Senate, President Muhammadu Buhari
has reportedly bowed to their pressure, by agreeing to withdraw the list
of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees recently submitted to the
Upper Chamber for screening and confirmation. Most of the 23 governors
elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have
kicked against the nomination.
has reportedly bowed to their pressure, by agreeing to withdraw the list
of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees recently submitted to the
Upper Chamber for screening and confirmation. Most of the 23 governors
elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have
kicked against the nomination.
They have also agreed to formally write the president stating their
reservations on the nomination. An insider in the apex chamber, who
preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent
that the president had agreed to withdraw the list because the Senate
had made it clear to him that his list was not acceptable to the
parliament, as the ears and eyes of the electorate and custodian of
democracy.
reservations on the nomination. An insider in the apex chamber, who
preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent
that the president had agreed to withdraw the list because the Senate
had made it clear to him that his list was not acceptable to the
parliament, as the ears and eyes of the electorate and custodian of
democracy.
The source also said that the Senate rejected the ambassadorial list
because its composition ran foul of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
According to the source, the selection process used by Buhari was in
flagrant disregard to the Federal Character principle, which provides
that every state of the federation must be equitably represented in
such critical appointments.
flagrant disregard to the Federal Character principle, which provides
that every state of the federation must be equitably represented in
such critical appointments.
The source further told New Telegraph that the Senate found out that
the president neither involved state governors of most states nor
other political stakeholders such as the lawmakers to make input in
the selection of the nominees, as has been the practice in a
democratic government.
the president neither involved state governors of most states nor
other political stakeholders such as the lawmakers to make input in
the selection of the nominees, as has been the practice in a
democratic government.
“The president has agreed to withdraw the list in order to work on it
and make it acceptable because we have made it clear to him that there
is nothing to be done for the Senate to accept that kind of skewed
list.
and make it acceptable because we have made it clear to him that there
is nothing to be done for the Senate to accept that kind of skewed
list.
“At least this is noncareer list, so the issue of some states not
having qualified candidates does not arise. Unfortunately, the list he
submitted to us is in total contradiction of the nation’s
constitution, particularly as it affects the provisions of Federal
Character.
having qualified candidates does not arise. Unfortunately, the list he
submitted to us is in total contradiction of the nation’s
constitution, particularly as it affects the provisions of Federal
Character.
“When you look at the list, you will find out that some states were
completely left out while some got two to three slots. What kind of
thing is that? We cannot take it and we have told him point blank that
it will be more dignifying for him to withdraw it and correct all the
anomalies spotted in the list.
completely left out while some got two to three slots. What kind of
thing is that? We cannot take it and we have told him point blank that
it will be more dignifying for him to withdraw it and correct all the
anomalies spotted in the list.
“We cannot run this democracy like military dictatorship, neither are
we going to allow any civilian, duly elected by the people of Nigeria
to operate an authoritarian regime under the watch of the people’s
parliament. “People may misunderstand us.
we going to allow any civilian, duly elected by the people of Nigeria
to operate an authoritarian regime under the watch of the people’s
parliament. “People may misunderstand us.
They may even accuse us of antagonising the president without a cause,
but we won’t allow sentiments to detract us from doing what is right.
It is we, the lawmakers, that history and posterity will hold
responsible for our actions or inactions,” the source stated.
but we won’t allow sentiments to detract us from doing what is right.
It is we, the lawmakers, that history and posterity will hold
responsible for our actions or inactions,” the source stated.
Buhari had, on October 20, forwarded the list of 46 non-career
ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation
for appointment as ambassadors.
ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation
for appointment as ambassadors.
Shortly after Saraki read the list on the floor of the Senate, Senator
Philip Aduda (FCT) protested the non-inclusion of any nominee from the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the list, describing the situation
as unfair and urged President Buhari to revisit the matter and correct
the anomaly in order to give FCT a sense of belonging.
Philip Aduda (FCT) protested the non-inclusion of any nominee from the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the list, describing the situation
as unfair and urged President Buhari to revisit the matter and correct
the anomaly in order to give FCT a sense of belonging.
Days after, some other senators drew the attention of the Senate to
the fact that their states were not represented on the list, and urged
that the omission be corrected before the Chamber could screen and
confirm the nominees. Earlier in June, the President sent a list of 47
career diplomats to the Senate for confirmation.
the fact that their states were not represented on the list, and urged
that the omission be corrected before the Chamber could screen and
confirm the nominees. Earlier in June, the President sent a list of 47
career diplomats to the Senate for confirmation.
The Senate has screened the nominees, while the Chamber is expected to
confirm them any moment. The list also attracted a lot of protests
from states that were not represented in the nominations.
The Senate invited the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Mr. Babachir Lawal, who came and convinced the lawmakers that the
states omitted did not have qualified officers based on the criteria
adopted by the president in the selection.
confirm them any moment. The list also attracted a lot of protests
from states that were not represented in the nominations.
The Senate invited the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Mr. Babachir Lawal, who came and convinced the lawmakers that the
states omitted did not have qualified officers based on the criteria
adopted by the president in the selection.
Meanwhile, New Telegraph learnt that the Senate had resolved not to
use the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which was
already returned to the Presidency, unless thoroughly reworked, with
detailed explanation, with realistic economic indices attached to it.
It was further learnt that there was no meaningful reconciliatory
discussions going on between Buhari and the Senate leadership as being
recently speculated.
use the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which was
already returned to the Presidency, unless thoroughly reworked, with
detailed explanation, with realistic economic indices attached to it.
It was further learnt that there was no meaningful reconciliatory
discussions going on between Buhari and the Senate leadership as being
recently speculated.
A source very close to the Senate leadership told our correspondent
that it was because of the recent consecutive visits of the President
of the Senate to the Aso Rock Villa that triggered the insinuation
that Saraki was seeking to build harmony between the Senate and
President Buhari.
that it was because of the recent consecutive visits of the President
of the Senate to the Aso Rock Villa that triggered the insinuation
that Saraki was seeking to build harmony between the Senate and
President Buhari.
The source, which holds very important position in the Senate, said
that the executive arm had a lot of controversial issues to resolve,
which Saraki alone could not, on his own, go and discuss without the
approval of the entire Senate.
that the executive arm had a lot of controversial issues to resolve,
which Saraki alone could not, on his own, go and discuss without the
approval of the entire Senate.
“I am not aware of any reconciliatory discussions going on between the
executive or the president to be more precise, and the Senate. Even
last time Saraki went to Villa, they did not discuss anything like
that because by virtue of my position in the Senate, I ought to know
if such took place between them.
executive or the president to be more precise, and the Senate. Even
last time Saraki went to Villa, they did not discuss anything like
that because by virtue of my position in the Senate, I ought to know
if such took place between them.
“We have not heard that they want to sit down to work out a harmonious
relationship. To the best of my knowledge, these issues you are
raising are all speculative.
Maybe, because Saraki is now seen often in the Villa, people just
concluded that they are building a peaceful relationship. “Remember
that the executive has a lot of issues with the Senate: the issue of
NERC appointment, INEC, EFCC, NCC, N180 billion virement, $29.96
billion loan and so on.
relationship. To the best of my knowledge, these issues you are
raising are all speculative.
Maybe, because Saraki is now seen often in the Villa, people just
concluded that they are building a peaceful relationship. “Remember
that the executive has a lot of issues with the Senate: the issue of
NERC appointment, INEC, EFCC, NCC, N180 billion virement, $29.96
billion loan and so on.
Don’t forget that the National Assembly is people’s assembly; so, the
leadership cannot work without the consent of the majority of members
of the National Assembly,” the source maintained.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the Senior Special Assistant to the
President (SSA) on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita
Enang, to comment on whether or not President Buhari has accepted to
withdraw the list of the non-career ambassadorial nominees failed, as
he did not pick his call after many trials by our correspondent.
Source: New Telegraph
leadership cannot work without the consent of the majority of members
of the National Assembly,” the source maintained.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the Senior Special Assistant to the
President (SSA) on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita
Enang, to comment on whether or not President Buhari has accepted to
withdraw the list of the non-career ambassadorial nominees failed, as
he did not pick his call after many trials by our correspondent.
Source: New Telegraph