A legislative consultant cum public policy analyst, Chibuzor Okereke, has asserted that the clash between Senators Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole during the screening of the ambassadorial nominees breached Order 52 of the Senate’s standing orders.
Naijaonpoint reports that Okereke, during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme on Thursday, described the clash as an unfortunate scenario.
According to him, no Senate committee has the power to confirm any ambassadorial nominees undergoing screening in the red chamber of the National Assembly.
He said, “I will start by saying it was an unfortunate scenario. The committee is actually a miniature plenary.
“If you look at Section 62(4) of the constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, it empowers the legislature to create committees that are relevant to their work.
“It also stated that the powers of the committee shall not be exercised in such a manner to erode the powers of the legislature and plenary. It simply means that the committees do not have finality.
“They simply meet, consider issues and make recommendation to the Senate or House of Representatives at plenary for consideration, approval and adoption.
“Now what happened is that both Senator Ali Ndume and Senator Adams Oshiomhole breached Order 52 of the standing orders of the Senate, and that Order 52 is on rules of debate, rules of engagement, how you engage with your colleague.
“But one other thing was very manifest, the inexperience of the chairman. He appeared not to be in charge of the committee, because, if you look at it on the surface, Senator Oshiomhole simply refused to be bullied or intimidated.
“The committees conducting ambassadorial screenings are not aware of the provisions and limitations of the committee.
“They keep declaring everyone approved and confirmed at the screenings. As far as Nigerian laws are concerned, no committee can confirm anyone.”
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