Beautiful nonsense, says Melaye – TheNigerialawyer

The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino
Melaye, has faulted the ongoing ministerial screening process.

Speaking on Channels TV, Melaye said Nigerians are unhappy with
the ongoing screening at the senate adding that the current
approach by the senate has turned the exercise into “more of an
adoption than a screening”.

The senate has been widely criticised for asking many nominees
to “take a bow and go” rather than grill them ahead of their
inauguration.

“I will tell you categorically that Nigerians are not happy
especially with the way the proceedings of the screening have been
conducted and I can tell you this without fear or favour,” he
said.

“But I want to say that we are talking to ourselves in the
senate and as the days go by, it will get better… I do not have
powers to nominate ministers but the reason why we have this
problem is because the president did not yield to the request of
some of us from the national assembly to submit the names of his
ministers with their portfolios, so we are actually shooting from
the dark.

“It would be better if the president was submitting the names of
the ministers with their portfolios so that we know their area of
competence and we can ask them questions within the jurisdiction
where they are going to serve.

“But if a man is going to be minister of labour and productivity
and you are asking him questions that have to do with health or law
reforms, then automatically, that exercise is a beautiful
nonsense.

“I want to advise and I still instil that for the betterment of
service to the country, and for us to have quality screening, the
president should submit the names of the ministers with portfolios
then we can now properly screen them.

“My advice to the senate is that we should screen these
ministers in committees so this will not delay other activities of
plenary. Going forward, that should be the approach. But for this
approach of everyone coming and three to four people asking
questions and the sentiment of bow and go, and some senators trying
to play to the gallery or trying to show support is very not
fruitful.”

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