We’ll Be Meticulous in Screening Nominees – Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday said  the

upper chamber would be thorough in the screening of ministerial nominees . 

Addressing Senators when they resumed from six weeks recess, he said the screening would be treated with all urgency. 

“As we await the list of ministerial nominees this week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the space for greater policy engagement with the Executive Arm of government and enable us to begin to respond in a more systematic manner to the various economic and social challenges before us, especially through our various committees that will also be constituted soon.

“On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us.

“Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch and thoroughness. We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta, “he said. 

According to him, the biggest challenge facing the country today is the state of our economy. 

“The dwindling oil revenue has brought enormous shock to our economy and greatly limited the capacity of government at various levels to meet even basic commitments. 

“Our country has gone through periods of recession in the past. What we face today is however unprecedented in ramification and potential gravity. 

“We must think hard and work hard with the Executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions. We shall therefore commence immediately, a review of the 2015 budget and begin now to lay down the fundamental principles that would determine the 2016 budget and the philosophy of our economy in times like this.