Performance of the Ministerial Nominees at Senate Screening Yesterday.

The Senate on Tuesday commenced screened 10 ministerial nominees submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Buhari sent two batches of nominees to the Senate.

The first batch, consisting of 21 names, was forwarded to the Senate on September 30.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read the names of another 16 Tuesday, bringing the total to 37.

The Senate screened only 10 of the nominees on Tuesday, following a motion by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume.

Those who appeared before the senate on Tuesday were Udoma Udoma, Kayode Fayemi, Audu Ogbe, Osagie Ehanire, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and Lai Mohammed.

Others are Suleiman Adamu, Amina Mohammed, Ogbonaya Onu, and Ibrahim Jibril.

Only Mr. Mohammed, who is currently the APC spokesperson, was asked to take a bow and go without questions, following an agreement by the ruling APC and opposition PDP senators.

The screening held under a relaxed atmosphere, although some nominees were grilled and had to respond series of questions pertaining to their respective backgrounds.

Mr. Udoma, a two-time Senator and former Chief Whip, was the first to be screened. He responded to a few questions before being asked to take bow and leave.

He emphasised the stimulation of the private sector and creation of an environment needed for domestic and foreign investment to thrive.

Messrs Fayemi, Dambazzau, Adamu, and Jibril spent more time before the Senate. They were faced with several questions.

Mr. Fayemi spoke on varying issues, including his tenure as Ekiti Governor, education, poverty and inequality, foreign policy and internal security.

Mr. Dambazzau, a former Chief of Army Staff, dwelt mainly on security and the challenges confronting the Nigerian military. He is expected to head the defence ministry.

Suleiman Adamu made case for the development of Abuja satellite towns.

Messrs Onu and Ogbe easily scaled through the process, with Mr. Ogbeh dazzling the senators with his in-depth knowledge of the agricultural sector.

The appearance of Lai Mohammed, the APC spokesperson, was the most dramatic.

His arrival was greeted with loud cheers from senators, mostly from the APC.

They screamed “bow and go” before Mr. Ndume moved a motion that Mr. Mohammed be cleared without being grilled.

Mr. Ndume asked the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, to second the motion, eliciting laughter.

Mr. Akpabio said though he wished he could second the motion, but he would not want Mr. Mohammed to go “without dropping his propaganda”.

Mr. Saraki ruled that the nominee give brief remarks, and leave.

In his remarks, Mr. Mohammed said it was more comfortable to be in government than in the opposition, mocking the PDP Senators that, they “need to stay a bit much longer in the opposition”.

When Ms. Mohammed, the former presidential adviser on MDGs spoke, it was clear senators could not appreciate her largely academic presentation, centered mainly on developmental policy.

She was asked to be concise, and was later allowed to go.

The screening continues on Wednesday when Adebayo Shittu, Chris Ngige, Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi among others, are expected to appear.

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Premium Correspondent: Adebayo Hassan.