Senate rejects 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees, approves 47 others

The Senate has rejected the confirmation of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.

This comes as the upper legislative chamber approved the confirmation of 47 career ambassadorial nominees.

There has been deluge of protests and complaints by prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts including state governors and other relevant stakeholders against the manner in which the President makes political appointments.

On Monday this week, a meeting was held between the National Assembly leadership, representative of the Governors Forum and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at Aso Rock with the aim of resolving the brewing political crisis over the alleged lopsided political appointments.

But at Tuesday’s plenary, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Monsurat Sunmonu, whose committee screened the 47 non-career ambassadorial nominees, informed her colleagues that over 250 petitions are currently pending before the committee against the screening of the 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees.

Speaking while presenting the committee’s report on the screening of 47 nominees, she submitted that the 46 non-career ambassadorial have more hurdles to cross than their counterparts.

She therefore asked that the nominations be referred back to the president to address the concerns of the petitioners.

“We thought that the issue raised on the career nominees would be addressed in the list of the non-career ambassadorial nominees but unfortunately the 46 nominees have more troubles than the others.

“We have received over 250 petitions on the non-career nominees. We find it difficult to start screening. My proposal is that we return the non-career nominees to the President to look at it again”, she told her colleagues.

When Senate President Bukola Saraki put the question to voice vote, it was unanimously adopted.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 20, sent 46 names of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation and approval.

Notable nominees in the list are former legislator Olorunibe Mamora (Lagos State), retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade (Lagos), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi) and immediate past deputy governor of Niger State, Ahmed Ibeto (Niger), whose nomination as a Minister was withdrawn by Buhari in October 2015.

It would be recalled that two out of the prominent politicians on the list: former National Secretary of the defunct  Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Usman Bugaje and former  Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Paullen Tallen, had earlier rejected their nominations

Speaking after plenary on Tuesday, Senate Spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi disclosed that unless the 250 petitions are resolved, the committee cannot commence the screening of the nominees.