Ambassadorial Nominees’ Screening suspended

The screening of 47 ambassadorial nominees at the Nigerian Senate has been suspended following the irregularities surrounding the nomination process.

The Senate suspended the screening on Wednesday after Senator Joshua Dariye raised a motion under matters of urgent national importance alleging the non-inclusion of the names of competent persons and/or career diplomat from his state was included in the list.

His views were shared by Senators Sola Adeyeye and Fauster Ogolar believing that the nomination process is faulty.
The Senate, after deliberation summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, to appear before its Foreign Affairs Committee to explain the lopsided nomination and report to the upper legislative chamber in one week.

It is barely two weeks since President Muhammadu Buhari sent the names of some ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation and since then, lawmakers have been picking holes in the process.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki also condemned the nomination process before announcing the house’s decision of suspending the screening.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is expected to meet with Onyema and report to the Senate in one week.