A list of candidates for ministerial positions may be sent to the Senate this week by the Presidency.
This was disclosed by Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan today while responding to a point of order raised on the floor of the Senate by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa-Ibom North-East) regarding the nn-submission of the list by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senator Akpan had drawn the Senate’s attention to their annual 2-month vacation which was imminent and Mr. President had yet to submit the list, noting that confirmation of the ministerial nominees could be delayed by the vacation.
He added that since Senators were in unison that the Budget calendar should be returned to Januray – December, the Senate President should impress it upon President Buhari to submit the ministerial list without further delay.
In response, Senator Lawan said that the Presidency might submit the ministerial list to the Senate before the weekend.
While making the observation under the Senate Standing Order 43, Akpan remarked: “It’s just a very simple reminder to our colleagues that based on our calendar, and we understand your passion towards supporting Mr. President to achieve his aim for a new Nigeria.
“But based on our own calendar, I think we should be proceeding on our long annual vacation in the next two weeks and I also know that in line with your vision for new Nigeria, you believe that we should return the country to January to December budget fiscal period.
“If we are going on recess in two weeks and by now we have not received the ministerial nominees, it means we have to put ourselves under intense pressure. I’m just calling the attention of the Senate President that there is a need for you to urge Mr. President to send the list of ministerial nominees.”
Lawan said he was confident that the Presidency would submit the list before the Senate embarked on its 2-month annual vacation.
As he put it: “I think this is to inform this Senate that the executive arm is working hard to get the list to the Senate. “I can imagine that before this week runs out, we could get the list. But I want to assure you that once we get the list, every senator here has shown the desire to stay long enough to screen and confirm the nominees in the interest of this country”.