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The Senate will on Thursday continue the screening of ministerial nominees submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senators had adjourned sitting to today to enable the Senate President, Bukola Saraki attend the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is standing trial on a 13-count charge bordering on false asset declaration.
Out of the 36 ministerial nominees submitted by President Buhari, 20 have been screened and 18 have been confirmed by the Senate.
Only the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has not been screened out of the nominees submitted on September 30.
Section 147(6) of the 1999 Constitution, says “An appointment to any of the office aforesaid shall be deemed to have been made where no return has been received from the Senate within 21 working days of the receipt of nomination by the Senate.”
Our correspondent reports that so far the Senate have exhausted 15 days out of the 21 working days, excluding weekends and Independence holiday.
In an interview , the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume said they are still within the time frame stipulated by the constitution.
“The Constitution is guiding us that we have to do this within 21 working days. And we are still within the 21 working days,” he said.
On why the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was not allowed to preside over plenary, he said, “This is not a normal day because we are screening APC nominees of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And there are issues surrounding it that we don’t want any other issue out of it again.”