Saraki pledges speedy screening of ministerial nominees

SENATE President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday assured of speedy screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees by the Senate any time the list is sent to the Upper Chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Saraki, who gave the assurance while receiving the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gaver, in his office, declared that the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly would resume plenary whenever there is any urgent matter of national importance such as nomination, screening and confirmation of ministers.

Responding to the comments by the French Envoy, the Senate President said that though the Senate is currently on break but “we are working and we are ready to reconvene any time to attend to any national assignment, including the confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees.”

He also pledged the cooperation of the National Assembly with the executive arm of government in accomplishing the programmes of the administration.

The Senate President said that bills from the executive arm of government would be treated with dispatch, as part of efforts to support the President to effect the positive change expected from his administration by Nigerians.

He told the French delegation that the Senate has commenced work already with the setting up of the 18-man committee to formulate a realistic and progressive legislative agenda, which he said would address issues like poverty alleviation, law enforcement, national security, commercial disputes, eradication of corruption and investments in the Petroleum sector.

Saraki further said the National Assembly would partner with the French National Assembly in the area of capacity building for legislators, strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and ensuring that more French investments flow into Nigeria.

He specifically solicited the co-operation of the French government in tackling the security problems in the North-eastern part of Nigeria, particularly as Nigeria shares borders with French-speaking countries.

Earlier, the French envoy, who described the leadership tussle at the National Assembly as part of democracy, solicited for cooperation between the National Assembly and the President Buhari-led executive arm of government.

The French envoy revealed that the expectation of the international community on Nigeria is high. He also called for cooperation between the private sector in Nigeria and its counterpart in France. On security, Gaver said France is encouraging her former colonies in West Africa to cooperate with Nigeria in the onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgency.