Presidency may forward Ministerial nominees list this week ― Senate President

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday doused the anxiety of his colleagues and the nation over the delay in presentation of the list of Ministerial nominees by the Presidency.

Responding to a motion of urgent national importance by Senator Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom Northeast), Senator Lawan revealed that the much-anticipated list would be presented before lawmakers this week.

Senator Akpan who raised the point of the order noted that the Senate was approaching the season for its annual, long recess, expressed concern that the delay in the screening of the nominees could impede the anticipated budget cycle of January to December.

He said: “Mr. President, my distinguished colleagues it is just a simple reminder to my colleagues and the chair that based on our calendar we should be proceeding on our annual long vacation in the next two weeks.

“In line with your vision for a new Nigeria, you believe that it is time to return the country to the January – December budget cycle. This cannot be possible without an early passage.

“If we are going on this long vacation in two weeks and by now we have not received the ministerial nominees, it means we have to put ourselves under intensive pressure. It is our collective responsibility that we must support Mr. President and leader to succeed.

“I am just bringing the issue to your attention to advise the president to send in the list of the ministerial nominees.”

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The President of the Senate in his response said President Muhammadu Buhari and his team were working hard to raise the list of ministerial nominees and submit to the Senate for its screening and confirmation.

He said: “This is to inform this Senate that the Executive arm of government is working hard to get the list of the ministerial nominees to the Senate.

“I can imagine that before this week runs out, we could get the list,” Lawan assured.

He commended the enthusiasm of lawmakers to receive the list and embark on the rigorous screening process of the nominees in the interest of the nation.

“I want to assure you that once we get the list, every senator here has shown and expressed the desire to stay long enough to screen and confirm the ministerial nominees in the interest of this country, for the country to be taken to the next level.”

Chairman Senate ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye while briefing journalists on Tuesday said lawmakers were not worried by the delay on the part of the Presidency to forward its list of ministerial nominees and said the Senate would not jettison its annual recess to screen and confirm ministerial nominees.