Senate screens ministerial nominees

The Senate yesterday commenced screening of ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Though only six out of the nominees were screened by the Senate yesterday before adjournment, the exercise which would see others appearing on the floor to brief the Senators on their intended performance continues today.

Those screened yesterday were Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Lagos state, Hon. Mohammed Wakil, Borno, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Kano, Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi, Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Malam, Kaduna, and Gen. Aliyu  Mohammed Gusau (rtd), Zamfara.
Obanikoro, who was first called upon, gave brief account of his life of service as a former High Commissioner to Ghana.
He noted that aside from sustaining peaceful co-existence between the host country and the Nigerian community, his tenure also witnessed increased turnaround in the economic fortunes of Nigerians resident in Ghana.

He said the business volume, which was at N600 million when he arrived in the country, grew to N4.6 billion at the end of his tenure.
The nominee from Kano state, Ambassador Aminu Wali, was, however, questioned by Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara) over his age and ability to perform on the job.

According to the lawmaker, youths may never have the privilege to serve so long as the country continues to recycle old hands.
Nominees billed for screening Thursday are Mr. Boni Haruna, Adamawa state, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, Sokoto, Hajiya Jamila Salik, Kano, Alhaji Abduljelili Oyewale Adesiyan, Osun, Dr. T.W. Danagogo, Rivers, and Asabe Asma’u Ahmed, Niger.