Confirmation Of Buhari’s Nominees Stalls In Senate - Politics 

Appointments into seven key government agencies have been bottled up in the Senate awaiting confirmation, some for more than four months now.
President Muhammadu Buhari made some of the appointments since last June, like that of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and 47 career ambassadors.

Other nominations are Chairman and Commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) National Population Commission (NPC), six INEC commissioners and two Supreme Court Justices - Sidi Dauda Bage (North Central) and Paul Adamu Galinje (North East).

Four commissioners of the EFCC were nominated along with Magu in a letter dated June 17, 2016, and signed by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in his capacity as acting President when President Muhammadu Buhari was in the United Kingdom on a 10-day medical vacation.

The EFCC nominees are Moses Ndasule, Mamman Lawan, Imam Najib Galadanci and Adebayo Rafiu Adeleke.
The letter was received at the Senate on June 22, according to the official stamp on it but was not read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki until on July 14.

President Buhari appointed Magu as acting Chairman of the anti-corruption Agency in November last year following the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde. By next month, he would have spent a year in office.

A Senator told our correspondent that the delay was in the best interest of Magu, saying “it’s a blessing in disguise because our colleagues had reservations about him but the delay has calmed nerves”.

When contacted, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume said the appointment of the EFCC’s boss would soon be confirmed.
The career ambassadors were nominated by President Buhari last June.

The matter was not discussed until July 12 when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir David Lawal appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to respond to queries that the appointments were lopsided.

Though the Committee had held confirmation hearing, its report is yet to be debated.
The President’s request has been sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Also, the confirmation of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is still hanging at the Senate.
The confirmation of six commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and five commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC) has not received the nod of the Senate.

The screening of President Buhari’s nominees for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was carried out last week by the Senate Committee on Communications but it is not clear when the report will be submitted for confirmation.

On the ambassadorial nominees, Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said their confirmation was delayed to accommodate states that had no representatives.

“The whole idea is to carry every state in the country along. We have duty to ensure that appointments meet the constitutional requirements,” he said.
On Magu’s confirmation, he said a committee has been asked to look into it.

“Every issue that is before us is very important, the issue of Magu is not an exception. We have our schedule, every work that comes to us is critical and important, “he said.

Asked whether the delay was as a result of the rift between the Executive and Legislature, he said, “I hope you guys are not being mischievous because by saying this you are not helping the country.”
Also in a text message, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) said the delay in the confirmation of the career nominees was because of expectation of list of the non career appointees.

Spokesman of the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in his reaction said the commission is adversely affected by absence of the national commissioners.
“We have been managing to cope but you know many heads are better than few. The job of 12 commissioners is being handled by six,” he said.

Presidency links delays to frosty relations
Officials at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, told Daily Trust in Abuja that there are no cogent reasons why the Upper Chamber should be delaying the confirmation when there are many vacuums to be filed.

Two officials who would not want to be named, as they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said the refusal of the President to allow the lawmakers have their ways, especially on financial issues, was largely responsible for their disposition.

“The most important of their grievances is the issue of constituency projects which the Presidency has said may not be possible in this year’s (2016) budget due to the economic downturn and dwindling income to the nation’s treasury.

“The lawmakers did not help themselves when they decided to purchase the cars despite the outcry by Nigerians,” one of the officials said.
Another said the Presidency is worried about the delays on what the Senate should have prioritised.

He said that part of the strategy to douse tension between the two arms of government was the reason for withdrawal of the forgery charges against the Senate President Bukola Saraki but the lawmakers have insisted the President must shift ground on the release of funds especially the constituency projects.

He said: “We all know that the National Assembly is seeing the Presidency as muzzling or trying to dominate them. But this is not the case; the cordiality expected from the lawmakers was not forthcoming. They want it to be business as usual even when they know there is financial difficulties and recession in the country.”

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Clement Aduku, was not available for comment.
However, a source at the ministry, who preferred not to be named because she was not authorised to speak, said though the absence of ambassadors poses no serious challenges, the government cannot keep foreign missions for long without them.

She said certain negotiations and engagements with host countries require the presence of a substantive ambassador, without which they cannot take place.
Daily Trust reports that even after their posting, the envoys have to present letters of credence to their host presidents before they can assume full responsibilities.