President Muhammadu Buhari has been given a 5 days ultimatum by the Senate to submit the list of ministerial nominees for screening, Igbere TV reports.
According to the Senate, if President Buhari failed to submit the ministerial list by Friday, the National Assembly will proceed on its announced two-month annual recess, Igbere TV reports.
The red chamber, according to its calendar is meant to go on its annual recess on July 26 and resume on September 26.
After winning the election in February and sworn in on May 29, Buhari continued to delay the submission of his cabinet with the excuse that he will need to take his time to appoint the people he knows.
Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, the Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs Affairs, in an interview with newsmen on Saturday, July 20, said the NASS would proceed on its annual two-month recess this week if the Senate did not get the ministerial list by Friday, July 26.
Senator Adeyeye said; “If the list does not come before Friday, the Senate will proceed on its annual recess. We are not giving the president any ultimatum. The schedule of the Senate will go ahead if the Senate does not receive the list. The list is the only thing that can hold us back.”
Adding that, “However, any time they submit the list, we will consider it. It is not our responsibility to put pressure on the President. We can be recalled whenever the list is submitted even if we are already on recess, in the overriding national interest.’’
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Minority Leader of the Senate, also told newsmen that the Senate would go on its annual recess on schedule saying.
It was learnt that it would take the upper legislative chamber at least two weeks to screen the 36 ministerial nominees being expected from the President Buhari.
Meanwhile, investigations showed that members of the red chamber were divided over the proposal by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, that members might have to postpone their recess to treat Buhari’s lists.
Some senators, who spoke with one of our correspondents off the record, said the idea of postponing the recess was not yet a resolution of the House.
