• Saraki, Senate President
The Presidency has thrown its weight behind the Senate following the criteria and procedures outlined to screen prospective ministers next week Tuesday
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Eg, who spoke with journalists in Abuja stated the Senate is backed by the constitution in such instance.
The Senate will screen the ministerial nominees submitted to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for three consecutive days which are October 13, 14 and 15.
On the demand of the Senate that ministerial nominees must submit certified true copy of their assets declaration forms, Eg stated the Senate is free to set its criteria for the screening of ministerial nominees appearing before it.
He noted that the nominees are expected to comply with whatever standard, principles, measures, norms or conditions set by the Senate in the course of their screening.
He said: “The Senate is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is free to set its criteria for the screening of the nominees appearing before it. Our job is to make sure that we work with the respective senators and the nominees to make sure that the senators are satisfied and agree with the nomination.
“We will not dispute with the Senate what they want because it absolutely lies in the heart and mind of the respective and distinguished senators to determine what questions to ask.
“The senators are free to ask questions just like the nominees are equally free to answer them.
“The senators are within their rights to request for what they want.
On the gains of the recent meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly, he stated the meeting had further cemented the mutual relationship between the two arms of government.