Ojudu Proposes Postponement Of Minister Designate Confirmation

- But Ruled Out Of Order



A mild drama occurred in the Senate today prior to the screening and confirmation of the nominees for ministerial positions whose names were recently forwarded to the Senate for confirmation by President Goodluck Jonathan.



The Senator representing Ekiti Central and spokesperson of APC senators in the upper chamber, Babafemi Ojudu, relying on order 14 under the privileges of members of the Senate, observed that the process of confirmation of nominated ministers is a serious one which must be taken seriously, adding that he was surprised that he was just receiving the briefs of the nominees right there on the floor of the Senate.


He argued that if the senators were really expected to do a thorough job, the CVs of the ministerial nominees ought to have been given to all the senators three or four days to the screening.


According to Ojudu, that would have enabled them to do a background check on the nominees to know if the information provided by them was true. He said he has observed similar process in other parliaments around the world and it is taken much seriously than they are doing.


"We would have known if they schooled where they claim they did or whether they worked in organisations where they claimed they worked. How can you expect us to do a thorough job if the day of the confirmation is the same day we are given the CVs of the nominees? It is wrong to go ahead with this. I propose that we should be given two or three days to research well on the information provided to enable us do a thorough job since those to be confirmed will be tasked with managing the affairs of Nigerians," Ojudu submitted.


At this point, the Senate President, David Mark, argued that he was sure that Ojudu was capable of digesting and processing the information within the short period and then proceeded to rule him out of order.


Another senator on the platform of the APC, Anthony Adeniyi, representing Ekiti South also raised a point of order, pointing out that the relevant Senate orders guiding the confirmation of ministerial nominees were not adhered to, adding that the process should be discontinued.


But the Senate President ruled him out of order as well.