Nigerian Senate has concluded the screening of ministerial nominees following Wednesday’s screening of Dr Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah(Abia), Anwuka Anthony (Imo), Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa), Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) and Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto).
President Muhammadu Buhari sent a list of 36 ministerial nominees, in two batches, to the Senate and all of them have been screened but only 18 of them have been confirmed by the Senate after screening.
The remaining 18 are expected to be confirmed by the upper chamber on Thursday, setting the stage for President Buhari to constitute his cabinet on his return from India.
The Senate started today’s screening with Dr Enelamah, who became a medical doctor at age 21, after which he studied Accounting, to become Chartered Accountant and Financial Analyst.
Enelamah, expected to be finance minister, showed the stuff he is made of as he was grilled for more than 50 minutes.(read more about Enelamah here: “Dr. Enelamah is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a qualified Chartered Accountant in Nigeria, winning two national prizes in the qualifying examinations
When the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki asked him to define the enabling environment he referred to for the economy to grow, he said, “the policy direction of the economy must be clear to the investors while there must be friendly investor signal.”
He also talked about provision of infrastructure such as power, good rail system and good road network.
Professor Anthony Anwuka Gozie from Imo State who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Imo State at one time, said if he had opportunity he would declare a state of emergency to rectify the rot in education sector.
Mallam Adamu Adamu, a columnist with Daily Trust, while answering a question asked by Senator Shehu Sani said to get to the root and find lasting solution to the scourge of Boko Haram, he would advocate for a commission of enquiry.
During the screening exercise today, Aisha Abubakar who had several petitions against her already withdrawn was asked to take a bow and go.
Senator Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti) moved a motion in her favour, reminder her colleagues of the ‘female gender friendly senate’. Her motion was supported by the majority leader, Ali Ndume.
The Senate thereafter adjourned till Thursday.