Following the recently held ministerial screening, a few Nigerians have commented on the exercise.
Many people have expressed their take on the ongoing screening of ministerial nominees by the Senate. While some praised the exercise, others were not impressed. Those who expressed mixed reactions on thursday said the exercise was a mixture of good and bad.
On Thursday, some politicians in Lagos and its environs praise the exercise as impressive especially the manner in which the Senate President handled proceedings. Others however noted that there is room for improvement.
According to many, it would have made more sense if the nominees had been assigned portfolios before the screening which would have provided the senators a guide on what to ask the nominees.
Many praised the exercise as better than what was obtainable in the past.
According to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, the Senate has since screened an appreciable number of the nominees since the first batch numbering 21 were sent in by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sept. 30.
The Senate had on Oct. 12, received additional 16 new nominees to bring the total to 37. The list was transmitted to Senate through the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the 2015 Presidential candidate of KOWA Party, said the exercise had been fairly good.
“I feel that a fairly good job was being done, even though there is room for improvements.
“The disparity in the time spent by the nominees is understandable; the well known nominee like Lai Mohammed was not subjected to intense questioning.
“If the portfolios for each of the nominees was attached, it could have helped in posing the right questions,’’ Sonaiya said.
She, however, urged both nominees and senators to be mindful of the seriousness attached to the exercise in the quest for better governance of the country.
The Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Olatunji Shelle, also said the exercise could be better handled.
“The screening exercise was okay; I was not impressed at the seriousness attached to the screening of one of the nominees, Lai Mohammed, who was virtually asked to take a bow. It almost took the shine off the exercise’’.
However, the Lagos State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Dr Akin Badmus, said that the screening was impressive.
“I am satisfied, indeed impressed by the exercise, considering that the opposition is well represented in the senate in terms of numbers.
“The questions have been relevant and Germaine to the tasks at hand,’’ Badmus said.
It is believed in many quarters that the present crop of Senators will do a good work as they have started off on a very good note.