Ambassadorial nominees: Senator faults list

Ambassadorial nominees: Senator faults list

Senator Emmanuel Paulker raised a point of order on the list of ambassadorial nominees

The list of the ambassadorial nominees was sent to the Senate on Thursday, June 9

Bukola Saraki, the Senate president read out the letter on the floor of the Senate

 The Nigerian Senate

The Senate on Tuesday, June 14, directed its committee on foreign affairs to investigate alleged omission of ambassadorial nominee from Bayelsa state. The directive followed a point of order raised by Emmanuel Paulker representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district. He said his attention was drawn to the omission by his constituents, shortly after the list was read in Senate on June 9 which was a clear violation of the constitution. The lawmaker said President Muhammadu Buhari did not give importance to federal character. “Few days ago the President of the Senate read the communication of President Muhammadu Buhari on the floor of the senate regarding ambassadorial nominees. “ As we left here my staff and colleagues were inundated with different calls drawing their attention that no nominee from Bayelsa state was on the list.

“I thought it was not true but as I went through the list it confirmed the fears expressed by our constituents,” he said. He explained that records had two deputy directors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who qualified to be on the list as he further decried that some states had up to three nominees on the list.

Bukola Saraki, the Senate president called on the committee on foreign affairs to investigate the claim and report back to the senate within the shortest possible time. “In line with our rule, Senator Paulker discussed this matter with me. I am happy that the Chairman Committee on Foreign Affairs is here, they will take a look at the matter,’’ he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, June 9, released the list of Ambassadorial nominees. This was contained in a letter sent to Senate president Bukola Saraki. According to the letter, the nominees are career diplomats who will oversee Nigeria’s mission outside the country.