Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the Senate will put Nigeria first and do a thorough job next Tuesday when Presidential Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial-nominees will come before the senators for screening.
He said this on Saturday in an interview with newsmen during his visit to the Ikenne country home of the Awolowos, to pay a condolence visit on the death of their matriarch, Chief Hannah Awolowo.
The Senate President explained that every Nigerian would have the opportunity to be part of the screening from the comfort of their homes as the event would be beamed live on television.
Saraki said the federal lawmakers would uphold the Constitution and ensure that the interest of the nation was put above personal or political interest, regardless of the legislators’ relationship with the nominees.
“We have said that for the 8th Senate, it is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the Constitution, the rules; we will put Nigeria first.
“Screening will be done with 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 will not be the basis; it will be based on the Constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of the capacity of the nominees to perform.
“And I assure you that individual differences will not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with the Senators and told them that.
“At this moment in time, we have made sure that as much as possible, we will share with the public; we try to ensure that all will be covered live so that everybody can see. We will all be screening from our bedrooms and sitting rooms along with the Senators.
“You’re assured that we will do a good job Nigerians would be proud of.”
In his condolence message, the Senate President described the late HID Awolowo as a mother for all, adding that that was why the 8th Senate passed a resolution, mandating a delegation to be led by the leadership, to pay a visit to the family.
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