In an unusual step, the Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday personally
delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari, a
list of nominees cleared by the Senate for
appointment as ministers, breaking with past
protocol that required presidential aides to
transmit the letter.
In the past, the special advisers to the
president on National Assembly submitted
names of nominees to the Senate, and back to
the president.
Mr. Buhari was first to ignore that procedure
this time, choosing to send his list through his
Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, than his senior
special assistant on Senate, Ita Enang.
On Tuesday, after weeks of ministerial
screening, Mr. Saraki submitted the list to Mr.
Buhari at the presidential villa.
The two men later shook hands and posed for
photographs.
Mr. Buhari and the Senate president had not
enjoyed the best of relationships since Mr.
Saraki’s emergence as senate leader, against
his party’s directive.
The Senate president is also currently facing
charges of alleged false declaration of asset
and corruption. He dismissed the charges as
politically motivated.
Fielding questions from journalists after a
closed-door meeting with the president, Mr.
Saraki said the quality of ministerial nominees
submitted by the president, made it easy for
the Senate to screen and confirm them.
“You noticed that in some cases we delayed
the number of one or two, it is all part of
politics, of behind the scene, but at the end of
the day we finished with them, that is all
about give and take and eventually I am
happy with what the senators have done,” he
said.
He said the stage was set for the new
government to kick off.
On concerns that some ministers may not be
given portfolios, the Senate president said that
was nothing new, as some could be ministers
of states.
The important thing, he said, was being in the
cabinet and being part of the government.
He noted that the country had more pressing
issues like declining revenues, the challenges
of trying to boost revenue and create jobs.
On why he personally delivered the list to the
president, Mr. Saraki said he had other issues
to discuss with Mr. Buhari.
He denied that the issue of his trial at the
Code of Conduct Tribunal came up.
Receiving the list, Mr, Buhari reaffirmed his
determination to block leakages and cut
spending in the face of financial crisis. He
said not all the 36 ministers would head
ministries.
According to him, the Constitution said there
must be one member of the cabinet from all
the states but did not say he must have 36
ministries.
Referring to criticisms that trailed his recent
statements while in India on the true state of
the Nigerian economy, he said though accused
of giving bad publicity and scaring away
investors from the country, investors knew
better.
“Any investor who is interested in investing in
Nigeria will seem to know more about the
economy more than ourselves. So when I
come and tell the truth about the position of
the economy of the country, I am going out
looking for investors,” he said.
“But I am confirming to them that we are
truthful, that we need them to come and help
us help ourselves by getting in industries,
manufacturing and services.
“They know our needs. The economy of
human resources, I believe will make them
eventually come and help us,” he said.
Reporter:
Talatu usman
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