Senate says 'screening will be thorough' as nominees’ list remains unopened

The Senate has said it will thoroughly screen the persons nominated for Ministerial positions as the list submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari remains unopened until next Tuesday.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, said there would be no delays in the screening of ministerial nominees, but the process will be thorough.

"I wish to assure Nigerians that the screening exercise will be thorough just the way the nomination process was thorough," Ndume said.

He however said the highly anticipated list will remain unopened until the Senate resumes plenary next week.

“The communication from Mr. President, which contains the list of the ministerial nominees and which remained sealed as I am talking to you, will be opened by the Senate President as soon as we resume plenary on Tuesday.

“It will appear on the Order Paper on Wednesday morning and the Senate will set up the necessary legislative procedure for the screening exercise."

Buhar's Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari and Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters (Senate), submitted the ministerial list on Wednesday, the 30th of September.

It was said to contain only 21 names, instead of the expected 36.