Senate Screens Ministerial Nominees, Oct 13

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said that the screening of ministerial nominees will begin next Tuesday, when the Senate would have received the resumes and other documentations of the men and women expected to be part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first cabinet members.
The Senate President spoke, yesterday after he formally unveiled a 21-man list of ministerial nominees sent to it for screening and confirmation by President Buhari last Wednesday during the plenary of the Senate.
The names of the ministerial nominees as subsequently read out by the Senate President conformed to speculations on those that make the ministerial lists that have been published in the media since the names were submitted last week.
The ministerial nominees are, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Abdurahman Bello Dambazzau; Aisha Jumai Al-Hassan; Lai Mohammed; Babatunde Raji Fashola; Adebayo Shittu; Solomon Dalong; Sen Chris Ngige; Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; and  Audu Ogbeh.
Others are, Amina Ibrahim Mohammed; Dr. Osagie Ehaneri; Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Eng. Suleiman Adamu; Kemi Adeosun; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Hon. Ahmed Musa Bello; Ibrahim Usman Jubrin; Sen Hadi Serika; and Sen Udoma Udo Udoma.
Saraki added that the list contained the first batch of ministerial nominees, adding that other names would come shortly.
Meanwhile, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Balarabe Musa, says he is disappointed at President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list arguing that that there is nothing spectacular about the names.
According to him, “why did it take the President four months to come up with these names? I believe this is the question that many informed Nigerians should ask.
“These are the same old names, ordinary Nigerians who the President knows and he must have even met them several times. So, what is particular about them that he wasted so much time in appointing them ministers.
“But there are about two or three who I can say are distinguished among them like, Audu Ogbeh who I have known for a very long time. We were together during the Second Republic.
“He was a minister while I was governor then. Audu Ogbeh has an outstanding public record that everybody knows.” The Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced to the Senators 21 ministerial nominees.