The Senate yesterday concluded the three-week-old confirmation screening of the 36 ministers-designate sent to it last month by President Muhammadu Buhari. Again, it failed to confirm nominees that were grilled last week, as well as the last 11 that were screened on Monday and yesterday.
Senate President Bukola Saraki did not give reasons for the repeated delay of the confirmation of the ministers-designate, but it is hoped that the Senate may confirm the nominees tomorrow, after which the names would be forwarded to Buhari.
Members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday met after plenary at the Senate Hearing Room One.
Although there was no official statement from the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, as at Press time, it was, however, gathered that the lawmakers met to restrategise on how to counter plans by All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators to confirm former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as minister.
The PDP Senators had last week refused to participate in screening Amaechi. They had objected to Saraki’s refusal to allow lawmakers debate the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Amaechi.
It is unclear whether APC Senators were also meeting.
Meanwhile, the last batch of nominees that were screened yesterday include Dr. Okechukwu Eyinna Enelamah (Abia), Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwuka (Imo), Mr. Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa), Mr. Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) and Ms Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto).
The exercise which commenced at about 11.40am, followed the submission of the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on a petition from Sokoto women against Ms Abubakar. The petition was, however, withdrawn after which the nominee was given a nod to be screened alongside with other ministers-designate.
Thereafter, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, moved a motion that the chamber dissolved into a committee of the whole. He was seconded by Akpabio.
The Senate adjourned at about 3.23pm till today, October 29.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday queried the planned review of the contract for the construction of the second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It is estimated at N63.5 billion. The chamber described the plan to splend such amount as an attempt to ‘steal and rape Nigerians of the country’s common patrimony.
It therefore, urged the Federal Government to ensure that due process and diligence are followed in the award of contracts for the planned construction.
Its resolution was sequel to a motion by Senator Dino Melaye, (APC, Kogi West), entitled, “The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Second Runway Contract.”
The Senate, while calling on the government to drastically reduce what it termed, the unrealistic cost, said the government must monitor the contract award process, even as it stressed the need for the immediate construction of the second runway at the airport.
Earlier in his presentation of the motion, Senator Melaye noted that the exercise was cancelled by the last administration after allegation of over-inflation of contracts was established.
By The Sunnews
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