News Post

The Senate on Wednesday directed Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, to appear before its Committee on Foreign Affairs over omissions and irregularities in ambassadorial nomination.Also summoned with the SGF on the issue is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.

This directive followed a Point of Order raised by Sen. Joshua Dariye (PDP-Plateau Central) at plenary which began after a two-hour close-door session.The lawmakers said that the SGF and the minister would explain the processes that led to selection of nominees before screening of the nominees would commence.Referring to Order 42 and Order 52, Senator Dariye said that he received complaints about irregularities in the selection of ambassadorial nominees from Plateau and other states.

He said, “given the important role played by ambassadors, due diligence must be given and there should be criteria to nominate qualified Nigerians.

Seconding the order, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye (APC-Osun Central) called for the intervention of the Senate in view of numerous petitions with regard to the matter, saying that there was a need to ensure that the right processes were followed in the selection of the nominees.

Supporting the point of order, Sen. Sunny Ugboji (PDP-Ebonyi) expressed concern that his state was not represented in the nomination. While urging all aggrieved persons to forward their petitions to the committee, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, said that the committee had already begun investigation into the matter.“We have received series of complaints from different states on how skewed the list is.

“The complaints are so much that the credibility of the list is put to question. We are working on those complaints,’’ he said.

In his contribution, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP-Taraba South) said that there were laid down procedures for nominating career ambassadors.He said, “what generates our concern is that the list is for career ambassadors and not political ambassadors.

“I am in agreement with the issue raised and it should be treated holistically.’’

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that he had equally received petitions from lawmakers and other Nigerians on the omissions in the list.

He called on the committee on foreign affairs to expedite action on the petitions, saying that screening would be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

“A number of senators have raised this observation and I have received a lot of petitions on this matter.

“If we say they are career officers we must ensure that the process is transparent, especially as they are going to be ambassadors.

“It is important for the foreign affairs committee to invite the minister and the SGF so that they can explain the processes that led to these names before we begin to consider the nominations,’’ he said.

The order was subsequently unanimously adopted by the lawmakers and the committee was directed to report back to the senate in one week.