Senate Begins Ministerial Nominees Screening …Invites Security Chiefs Over Bombing

The Senate will begin the screening of ministerial nominees to enable President Goodluck Jonathan to constitute his cabinet, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba said.

Ndoma-Egba spoke at a news conference after a closed-door meeting of the Senate, stressing:  “the Senate is ready for the screening of the nominees.”

The President had sent a list of 34 persons to be considered for ministerial positions.

Ndoma-Egba said the Senate had no reason to delay the screening, adding: “we will begin the process tomorrow to enable Mr President constitute his cabinet.’’

He said that part of the discussion at the meeting was to bring the new senators up to speed on the modalities of screening.

Ndoma-Egba said that senators would be guided by the mood of the Senate and that “every nominee will be subjected to the same grid.’’

Commenting on the appointment of Special Advisers, he said the Senate only needed to approve the number of those to be appointed as advisers as requested by the President.

On the security measures taken by the management of the National Assembly (NASS), Ndoma-Egba said “there is going to be lots of inconveniences for senators, staff, guests, friends and even you journalists.

“These are very unusual times that require us to adopt unusual measures.”

He, therefore, appealed to the staff and members of the public to show understanding while the management of NASS continued to implement the measures.

Mark also announced the receipt of a separate letter from Jonathan informing the Senate of his desire to appoint 20 Special Advisers to be part of his cabinet.

The Senate President further read another letter from Jonathan nominating Mr Frank Chineke for confirmation by the Senate, as a member representing Rivers in the Board of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday resolved to invite heads of all security agencies to give detailed briefings on the incessant bomb explosions in the country attributed to the Boko Haram sect.

The interactive session,Enang said the act and other acts of terrorism in the country must be condemned as they were an embarrassment to the country’s security system.

Contributing to the debate, Sen. Ayogu Eze (PDP-Enugu) said the sixth Senate had ended its session discussing the issue of security in the country and as such the matter had gone beyond paying lip-service.

He said that intensive and critical investigations must be carried out to determine the issues involved and solutions proffered.

“It is a matter that should go beyond paying lip-service.

“And we should look at some of the critical factors behind what is happening because the terrorists, as they are branded, have some reasons like failures within the system that must have prompted their actions.

“We must begin to look at some of these causes as well as put measures in place to secure our nation because this is gradually becoming a national embarrassment.’’

He said that if a solution was not proffered immediately, it might result to foreigners, especially investors, refusing to visit the country due to fear for their lives.

In his contribution, Senator  George Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) expressed concern over the apparent lack of security in the country to the extent that the nation nearly lost its chief security officer.

Sekibo expressed regret that bomb explosions had become a recurring decimal in the country and as such urgent steps must be taken to curb the trend.

“How can our security system be so low that we almost lost our I-G (Inspector-General of Police)?

“ It is also alarming that the act was carried out in the premises of the chief law enforcement agent where there are bomb detectors and yet a bomb went in and exploded there.

“It has gone out of control and we must support the Federal Government to find solution to this predicament.’’

Senator Olushola Adeyeye (ACN-Osun Central) also challenged the Senate to summon enough courage to put a stop to the violence in the country.

“I believe there is sufficient wisdom in this chamber to examine the problems and proffer solution because this is not a problem we can leave in the hands of the executive alone.’’

Senator Awaisu Kuta, (PDP-Niger), however, cautioned security agents to guard their utterances in order not to aggravate the matter further.

In a remark, Senate President David Mark said that once there was a security lapse, so many people would be inconvenienced.

Mark said that security was an expensive venture that could not be taken for granted and warned that if the issue was not tackled now, it would become more expensive to manage.