Group gives senate 7 days to begin screening Buhari’s nominees

The Human and Environmental Developmental Agenda (HEDA
Resource Center) has given the national assembly a seven-day
ultimatum to commence the confirmation process of nominees sent by
the executive.

In a petition sent to Senate President Bukola Saraki, and signed
by Olanrewaju Suraj, chairman of the resource centre, HEDA said the
failure of the senate to screen the nominees is undermining
governance and frustrating the ongoing fight against
corruption.

HEDA, which is a non-governmental and non-partisan human rights
and development organisation, said it is deeply worried and
concerned over the “failure of the senate under Saraki to discharge
its constitutional duty”.

“HEDA is giving the senate a seven-day grace period to commence
the process of confirmation for the nominees, after which we will
institute a legal action against the senate if it failed to
discharge its statutory responsibility in that regard,” it
said.

“Newspaper headlines are speculating political motive not
unconnected with differences between the Senate and the Presidency
is responsible forSenate’s deliberate withholding of a
constitutional duty in the confirmation of about sixty nominees
from the president.

“The senate under your leadership has delayed some of the
nominations for a period of over six months. This has not only
affected the confirmation but it has also continued to affect the
smooth running of the affected federal government agencies who are
still having problems clearing their nominees in the senate.

“The Daily Times of February 5, 2018 reported that the nominees
of President Buhari are still having their fate hanging in the
balance since the Senate continued to put their case in abeyance in
alleged protest against the retention of Magu by Buhari as the
acting chairman of the EFCC.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission has been incapacitated with the absence of an Acting or
Substantive Chairman. That institution with enormous responsibility
in the fight against corruption is on the long list of Government
Agencies adversely impacted by the inexplicable constitutional
dereliction on the path of your senate.

“Failure to screen and confirm the chairman designate is an
utter disregard for your responsibility as provided in section 3(6)
of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) Act which states that: ‘the chairman and members
of the commission who shall be persons of proven integrity shall be
appointed by the President, upon confirmation by the senate and
shall not begin to discharge the duties of their offices until they
have declared their assets and liabilities as prescribed in the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Human and Environmental Developmental Agenda (HEDA
Resource Center) has given the national assembly a seven-day
ultimatum to commence the confirmation process of nominees sent by
the executive.

In a petition sent to Senate President Bukola Saraki, and signed
by Olanrewaju Suraj, chairman of the resource centre, HEDA said the
failure of the senate to screen the nominees is undermining
governance and frustrating the ongoing fight against
corruption.

HEDA, which is a non-governmental and non-partisan human rights
and development organisation, said it is deeply worried and
concerned over the “failure of the senate under Saraki to discharge
its constitutional duty”.

“HEDA is giving the senate a seven-day grace period to commence
the process of confirmation for the nominees, after which we will
institute a legal action against the senate if it failed to
discharge its statutory responsibility in that regard,” it
said.

“Newspaper headlines are speculating political motive not
unconnected with differences between the Senate and the Presidency
is responsible forSenate’s deliberate withholding of a
constitutional duty in the confirmation of about sixty nominees
from the president.

“The senate under your leadership has delayed some of the
nominations for a period of over six months. This has not only
affected the confirmation but it has also continued to affect the
smooth running of the affected federal government agencies who are
still having problems clearing their nominees in the senate.

“The Daily Times of February 5, 2018 reported that the nominees
of President Buhari are still having their fate hanging in the
balance since the Senate continued to put their case in abeyance in
alleged protest against the retention of Magu by Buhari as the
acting chairman of the EFCC.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission has been incapacitated with the absence of an Acting or
Substantive Chairman. That institution with enormous responsibility
in the fight against corruption is on the long list of Government
Agencies adversely impacted by the inexplicable constitutional
dereliction on the path of your senate.

“Failure to screen and confirm the chairman designate is an
utter disregard for your responsibility as provided in section 3(6)
of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) Act which states that: ‘the chairman and members
of the commission who shall be persons of proven integrity shall be
appointed by the President, upon confirmation by the senate and
shall not begin to discharge the duties of their offices until they
have declared their assets and liabilities as prescribed in the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”