Senate puts ministerial nominees’ screening on hold till Tuesday, Wednesday

The Senate has announced a decision to suspend further screening of ministerial nominees till next Tuesday and Wednesday, October 20 and 21, respectively, in order to allow for other legislative duties to be carried out by it.

The senate’s spokesman, Senator Dino Melaye,  confirmed, Thursday morning, that the screening exercise for the remaining ministerial nominees has now been be put on hold; even as the house, Wednesday, had cleared 8 more of the  nominees from the first batch sent to it by President Muhamadu Buhari.

The senate’s decision might not be unconnected with the anticipated furore expected to be generated as former Rivers State governor, Chibuiike Amaechi was billed to face the house, Thursday, along with Adebayo Shittu from Oyo State.

Amaechi already has two petitions against his nomination pending.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had announced, Wednesday, that the house had cleared a total of 18 ministerial nominees, representing 10 on Tuesday as well as the 8 cleared on Wednesday.

Those cleared on Day Two of the exercise include; Babatunde Raji Fashola, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Solomon Dalong, Aisha Alhassan, Osagie Ehanire, Chris Ngige, Audu Ogbe, Udoma Udo Udoma.

The house has so far confirmed notable nominees like former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu,as well as 15 others as ministers of the Federal Republic.