Ambassadorial nominees: Again, Senate summons Foreign Affairs Minister

• Keeps mum on SGF’s appearance

From Fred Itua, Abuja

Senate Committee on For­eign Affairs will, tomor­row, meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geof­frey Onyeama over claims that some states were omit­ted from the ambassadorial list sent to the chamber for approval by President Mu­hammadu Buhari.

Two members of the com­mittee, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Sonni Ogbuoji, who confirmed that the min­ister would appear before the lawmakers, could not, however, establish whether Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal would also be at the meeting.

Senate had, shortly before it embarked on recess three weeks ago, summoned the minister and the SGF to ex­plain why some states were omitted in the list of ambas­sadorial nominees.

Onyeama and Lawal were also expected to explain to the lawmakers, perceived irregularities in the list of nominees, including alleged selection of some junior officers in foreign service for ambassadorial appoint­ments, instead of their su­periors.

Senate resolved sequel to consideration of a motion by Joshua Dariye, who came under Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Orders.

However, the two public servants did not meet with the committee as scheduled before the National Assem­bly went on the short recess.

Dariye had, while making his submissions, observed that the ambassadorial list was full of omissions and irregularities and should be corrected before Sen­ate could consider it for approval. He alleged that, in his state, Plateau, those nominated by the president were not qualified as senior career officers in the foreign service from the state were left out, while their junior counterparts were picked.

“Given the important role played by ambassadors, due diligence must be given, and there should be a criteria to nominate qualified eminent Nigerians,” dariye added.

In his prayer, which was adopted by the chamber, Dariye said:”We should di­rect that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the SGF appear before the commit­tee on Foreign Affairs to explain the omissions and irregularities and the pro­cesses by which some of these names came about.”

Senator Olusola Adeyeye who seconded the motion, called for the intervention of the Senate “in view of nu­merous petitions which the it had received in respect of the matter.”

The prayer was adopted leading to the invitation of the minister and the SGF.