Saraki warns ministerial nominees to expect rigorous screening

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Saturday advised the nominees coming to be screened as prospective ministers to expect a rigorous exercise as “it’s no longer business as usual”.

Speaking when he led a six-man Senate delegation to the Ikenne home of the Awolowos over the demise of
HID, their matriarch, Saraki told newsmen that the exercise would not be about “who you like or who you don’t like”.

Pledging that the interest of Nigerians will be the only priority in the screening, he said: “It’s not going to be business as usual. We will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first.”

He continued: “Screening will be done with level of seriousness and what we are all about is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that we find people who are fit enough to be ministers and particularly this time, to give President Buhari the support he requires.

“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerians that we will not be be
biased, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform.

“And I assure you that individual differences would not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with senators and told them that.

“Be rest assured that we will do a good job that Nigerians would be proud of,” he stated.

Saraki went on to describe HID Awolowo as a great woman, an icon and mother for all, adding that, that made

the senate to mandate him to lead the delegation on a condolence visit to the family.

While recalling the influence that the deceased had on politicians, irrespective of party difference, he said: “Normally, as our tradition, we send a delegation, but, for mama she deserved this even more is for the entire senate represented by the presiding officers to be here in person I lead that delegation. That is why I am here in person.”