Senate gives Buhari five days to submit ministerial list

The Nigerian Senate has given President Muhammadu Buhari five days (till Friday) to to submit the list of ministerial nominees for screening, failure of which it will proceed on its two-month annual recess.

The Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs Affairs, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye disclosed this in an interview with Sunday Punch.

Punch quoted him as saying that the red chamber would proceed on its annual two-month recess this week if the Senate did not get the ministerial list by Friday.

“If the list does not come before Friday, the Senate will proceed on its annual recess. We are not giving the president any ultimatum. The schedule of the Senate will go ahead if the Senate does not receive the list. The list is the only thing that can hold us back,” he said.

The senator noted, however, that the President was at liberty to send the list whenever he pleased and that the Senate also had a duty to consider it in the overriding national interest.

“However, any time they submit the list, we will consider it. It is not our responsibility to put pressure on the President. We can be recalled whenever the list is submitted even if we are already on recess, in the overriding national interest.’’

The 9th National Assembly, in line with its annual calendar, is meant to go on its annual recess on July 26 and resume on September 26.

Buhari, who won election in February and was sworn in on May 29, has is yet to submit his ministerial nominees five months after winning reelection and two months after being sworn in for second term.

After being sworn in for first term on May 29, 2015, it took the President six months to name his cabinet.

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