Ministerial Nominees: Law To Compel President To Assign Portfolios Underway

ABUJA, AUGUST 24, (THEWILL) - A law that would compel the president to assign portfolios to ministerial nominees before forwarding their names to the Senate for screening is underway in the House of Representatives.

Consequently, the House Committee on Governmental Affairs is to hold a public hearing soon on the Bill sponsored by Hon. Friday Itulah (PDP/Edo) titled: ‘An Act to Make Provisions That Will Enable the National Assembly to Be More Effective in Screening Ministers of the Federal Government of the Federation Pursuant to The Provisions of Section 147 of 1999 Constitution.’

Stakeholders are expected to converge at National Assembly in a few days at a Public Hearing on the Bill, organized by Rep. Leo Ogor (PDP/Delta), the Chairman of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs.

The piece of legislation, reiterates the provision of section 147 of the 1999 Constitution that states that: "The President shall in submitting the names of Ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation clearly indicate the portfolio for which he intends the nominees to occupy."

In its explanatory note, the sponsor stated that the "Bill seeks to make provisions that will enable the National Assembly to me more effective in screening Ministers of the Federal Republic, pursuant to the provisions of section 147 of the 1999 Constitution."

"Majority of the members of the National Assembly can’t wait to see when the President would send names of ministerial nominees to the Senate before confirmation, as it is done in other civilized Countries," the sponsor of the Bill said.