The Senate has declared that screening of ministerial nominees, which begins in the Senate Tuesday next week, would be guided by relevant provisions of the Senate’s standing rules.
In particular, the exercise would be guided by the provisions of Order 120 of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 and sections 147, 14(3), 65, and 5 of the Constitution of Nigeria.
The senate would also insist that all the nominees, especially all former public office holders must provide their assets declaration certificates before they can scale through the screening.
Chairman of the senate ad hoc committee on media and publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, who spoke with newsmen on Thursday, October 8, revealed this.
Melaye stated that these conditions and procedures were agreed upon by the senators during their executive (closed door) session yesterday, which lasted for about two hours.
He stated that the privileges to be accorded to past legislators arise from the fact that as former members of the National Assembly, such persons have automatically satisfied the basic condition for being a minister as contain in section 147(5) of the constitution, which states that, “No person shall be appointed as a minister of the government of the federation unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of Representative.”
He also disclosed that in line with order 120 of the senate standing orders rule book, the senate would insist that all the candidates must tender their assets declaration certificates as a pre condition for their confirmation.