The Senate has approved the confirmation of 45 out of a total of 47 non-career ambassadorial nominees, nominated requested by President Muhammadu Buhari via a letter read to the Senate at its plenary session of Tuesday, January 17th 2017. The request was referred to the Senate committee on Foreign Affairs for further legislative input.
Presenting the report on the nominations at the plenary session of Thursday, March 23rd 2017, the Chairman of the Committee Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu (APC: Oyo) stated that the screening of the ambassadorial nominees which took place from the 7th to the 10th of February, 2017 was thorough and openly conducted with members of the public and press in attendance.
Sen. Sunmonu affirmed that all 47 nominees appeared before the committee and were screened in compliance with the guidelines for the exercise. She explained that the screening was conducted with the aim of selecting the best amongst eligible Nigerians who will serve effectively and that the committee found 45 nominees worthy and suitable for confirmation and therefore recommended them as Ambassadors. However, the Committee rejected the nomination of 2 Non-Career Ambassadors, Hon. Justice S. A Nsofor (Imo State) and Mr. Daodu Igbekele Jacob (Ondo) citing advancement in age and reports from the Department for Security Service (DSS) respectively as reasons for their disqualification. Hon. Nsofor was said to be 82 years old.
Sen. Sunmonu further noted that some States, namely Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Ondo were not adequately represented considering the fact that other States had a minimum of 2 nominees and requested that the Senate urge President Muhammadu Buhari to make additional nominations to ensure fair representation.
In view of Sen. Sunmonu’s submission, the Senate approved the confirmations.
