Ten ministerial nominees were screened today by the Senate. No one was allowed to just take a bow and go. They were grilled by the senators as promised. Some of the nominees gave good answers, while others offered unctuous praises to the senators, apparently to curry favour and were not really bothered by the lawmakers.
The Senate’s official twitter account tweeted some of the important things the nominees said during their screening. How do you think they did?
Former Senator Udoma Udo Udoma opened the floor.
#MinisterialScreening
We cannot turn this economy around if we rely solely on public sector; we have to focus on the private sector #Udoma
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi was sound. He gave the right answers to most of the questions asked.
#MinisterialScreening
'Our security needs to address our Criminal Justice System, people don't get punished for crime'-@KFayemi
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Poverty is the problem between the mindlessly rich and hopelessly poor.' – @KFayemi
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
'Poverty is not inevitable, we have a lot of countries like China that have lifted it's people from poverty'~@KFayemi
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Alternation of Power is the best way to deepen democracy; Not perpetuation of Power'. – @KFayemi
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
'We have not been able to do well in the Technical and Vocational part of our Educational Sector'~@KFayemi
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#Ministerial Screening'I did not borrow to pay Salaries, I borrowed for Capital Projects.' @KFayemi
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Audu Ogbe seemed to lick the feet of his examiners. Is currying favour a crime when you actually need it?
#MinisterialScreening'People accuse senators of having huge salaries, they don't know the kind of pressure you go through'-#AuduOgbeh
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
'The pressure on Senators from people demanding money is caused by poverty'-#AuduOgbeh
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu wants power to improve in Nigeria.
#MinisterialScreening'We need to diversify power generation in Nigeria'-#Onu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
'We have abundance of coal in some parts of the country, we need to use coal for power generation'-#Onu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
'On unemployment; there is no way we can solve the problem of unemployment until we increase our production'-#Onu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
'We should not be afraid of the problems facing us now, but rather be happy that these problems can be solved'-#Onu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Dr. Osagie Ehanire from Edo State is the healthcare guy.
#MinisterialScreeningThere is a need for the revamp of the Health Sector to meet International Standards. – Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'We need to do more about getting Equipments. The Corruption in the Health Sector has to be stamped out' -Dr. Ehanire
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'We need to do more about getting Equipments. The Corruption in the Health Sector has to be stamped out' -Dr. Ehanire
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'The respect patients get from Private Hospitals should also be gotten in Public Hospitals'-#Ehanire
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Availability of equipment, trained staff & affordability of the service are the problems of health care'-#Ehanire
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Housemanship can be taken care of if a proper program is mapped out to accommodate medical graduates'-#Ehanire
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau presents an impressive CV.
Danbazau.. we don't take advantage of UN reimbursement system for equipments used at War.. #MinisterialScreening @NGRSenate
— Malachy Ugwuanyi (@SonofShama) October 13, 2015
He also agreed that the N1,000 daily allowance to soldiers fighting insurgency. Speaking on grazing crises in the country, Dambazau says it is actually not a religious issue, but a resource-based (land scarcity)issue. Although, he agrees that it sometimes takes on religious colouration.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed had huge support of the Senate. Although, he did not have much to say despite being asked by the Senate President to say a few things about his skills. He spoke mostly about politics.
#MinisterialScreeningSenate Leader Ndume moves that #Lai Mohammed bows and go but SP @bukolasaraki asks that Senators allow him speak.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'It is service to be in opposition but its higher service to serve in Government' – #Lai Mohammed
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Amina J. Mohammed, however, spoke about her experience.
#MinisterialScreening'On the Stock Market, we need partnerships to develop this country and grow domestic relationships' @AminaJMohammed
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening@AminaJMohammed says the backdrop of the SDGs are inequality, poverty, lack of education et al.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Engr. Suleiman Hussaini Adamu was also screened.
#MinisterialScreening'We don't conduct feasibility studies for projects etc.' #Adamu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Costs makes us have a difference in the quality of our roads and national infrastructures'. – #Adamu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Because of budgetary concerns, we take on cheaper labour that brings about poor quality results' #Adamu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'Project managers should always be carried along to ensure progress of projects carried out' #Adamu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'As a professional, the biggest calamity for me is to have an uncompleted project' #Adamu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening'If confirmed minister, my priority will be to look at all the uncompleted projects and complete them' #Adamu
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
Mr. Ibrahim Usman was last to be screened.
#MinisterialScreening
"In the past 30years there have been policy inconsistencies" In regards to land allocation #Jibril
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
#MinisterialScreening
Unless issues of resettlement are properly addressed there will continue to be half-hazard allocations. #Jibril
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2015
While today’s screening might not have been tough for some of the ministerial nominees, the Senate stuck to its word that it would not be business as usual, as the screening was an improvement on previous ones.
The screening continues tomorrow.
