The Nigerian Senate in session
Seven ministerial nominees whose names were forwarded to the Senate last week by President Muhammadu Buhari have all been cleared by the Nigerian Senate.
The Port Harcourt Telegraph understands that the screening exercise which started at about 12 noon on Wednesday ended around 4:37 p.m.
Among those who were confirmed are Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa-Ibom), and Ekumankama Joseph Nkama (Ebonyi).
Also confirmed were Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano), Ademola Adewole Adegoroye (Ondo), and Udi Odum (Rivers).
President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan
Odum Odih Udi
How they scaled through:
Ikechukwu Ikoh who appeared first before the Senate spoke strongly in favour of the need to grant operationallicences to those who are interested in owning modular refineries.
He said, in answer to the question put to him on the floor of the Senate, that such a step could help to create much needed jobs.
The Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Umana Okon Umana from Akwa Ibom said Nigeria would have to raise its production capacity.
Umana Okon Umana
He acknowledged that such a measure would boost foreign exchange earnings and reduce the country’s reliance on importation.
Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, urged young Nigerians to invest in the country’s trade sector, saying it would foster self-reliance and productivity.
Dealing with the ASUU Strike:
On the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nkama noted it would be right for the federal government and ASUU to reach an understanding.
“There will be the need for compromise. For a very long time ASUU has been sticking to their guns that all the agreements reached earlier must be implemented.
“And we know that from the same source – the same national purse – there are several contending interest seeking for attention.
“My advise will be that federal government and ASUU will have to come to a compromise, and through this, we would be able to solve the issue of ASUU strike once and for all.
He observed that was acutely aware of “the importance of budgetary provision”, saying, “I want to appeal to the Senate that when the budget is being made for the coming year, there will be adequate provision for the education sector, so that some of these needs that the ASUU members are asking for as a union will be met.”
Also speaking on the ASUU strike, Ademola Adewole Adegoroye, emphasized that the resolve of the lecturers not to return to the classroom is against interest of Nigerian students.
But he opined that efforts must be made by government to find lasting solutions to the crisis rocking the nation’s educational system
Sustaining National Assembly/Executive ties:
Goodluck Nana Opiah, a former member of the House of Representatives, was asked by the chamber to take a bow.
Goodluck Nana Opiah
It is traditional to extending such privilege to past members of the National Assembly.
Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), said he would continue to sustain the harmonious working relationship between the Executive and National Assembly.