Senate Divided Over Ministerial Nominee Screening Process

As the Senate prepares to commence the screening of President Bola Tinubu‘s 28 ministerial nominees tomorrow, a distinct divide has emerged regarding the proposed process.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, insist the screening will be thorough and that nominees will not be allowed to merely “take a bow and go” without facing questions.

However, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the former Senate Minority Leader, strongly disagrees, predicting no significant changes in the procedure.

An anonymous senator who spoke with Vanguard concurs with Abaribe, noting the list’s heavy composition of former governors, senators, and House of Representatives members could lead to a lax screening process.

Adaramodu declared, “This time, the screening will be very thorough,” detailing that they’ll evaluate nominees’ experience, character, personality, and background, but made clear there would still be instances of the “take-a-bow-and-go” protocol.

On the other hand, Abaribe argued that the screening won’t be different, stating, “Nothing has changed to give any signal of a change in methodology.”

Despite differences of opinion, Senators Bamidele and Adaramodu promise a detailed review of the ministerial nominees, ensuring their capabilities to fulfil the roles adequately.

The ministerial nominees include noteworthy figures such as former Governors Nasir El-Rufai, Nyesom Wike, Abubakar Badaru, and Dave Umahi, along with other prominent politicians.

The screening will begin on Monday, July 31, and expectations run high among the Senators and the public alike.