Senate gets ministerial list from presidency•Senators under pressure to drop nominees •Ndoma-Egba, Agboola emerge principal officers

THE long expected ministerial nominees’ list got to the official residence of the Senate President, Mr David Mark, on Monday afternoon.

It was learnt that a member of staff of the presidency took the list to the president of the Senate just before President Goodluck Jonathan travelled out of the country.

Mark, had while speaking to reporters in the National Assembly, said the Senate might unveil the list on Tuesday (today).

Following the resumption today, Senator Mark is expected to unveil the ministerial nominees who have been cleared by the security agencies.

It was confirmed that nominees who have completed clearance by security agencies have also completed their documentation at the National Assembly.

One of the nominees told the Nigerian Tribune that he was set for the screening by the Senate having undergone fingerprinting formalities at the police headquarters and the screening by the State Security Service (SSS).

Also on Monday, Mark approved the new sitting arrangement in the Senate which confirmed Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as the Senate Leader. He is the Senate’s number three man.

The new organogram also confirmed former governor of Benue State, Mr George Akume, as the Minority Whip, while the position of Minority Leader is so far vacant.

Also, it was confirmed on Monday that Senator Hosea Agboola, from Oyo North senatorial district had emerged the Senate Majority Whip.

The Deputy Majority Whip position is now to be occupied by Senator Hayatu Bello Gwarzo, who is a fourth term senator.

Senator Alli Ndume from Borno State has been designated Deputy Majority Leader.

In a brief interview with newsmen, Mark said he was worried that the Boko Haram menace was becoming a thing of urgent national importance.

He also assured that the National Assembly would ensure that the new revenue formula is reviewed within the context of constitution amendment.

The interaction between Mark and reporters went thus:

You just carried out an inspection of the Senate, are we ready for sitting?
Mark: We are, are there not seats there in the chamber? There are seats there, all we need is where to sit down, but we are tiding it up for tomorrow’s session.

Are you satisfied?
It is Ok.

What are we expecting tomorrow, I am talking in terms of communications from the president?
Well, I am sure he will send some list to us, (the) ministerial list. I hope he sends them tomorrow.

Is there a division between the PDP and the Senate on the leadership?
Are you a member of the PDP? You cannot speak for us as a party. There is no division.

Are we expecting to get the full list of principal officers tomorrow?
I think so; yes. We should.

Which zone is producing the Senate Leader?
But where did you say the division is coming from? If you do not know the zone producing the Senate leader, how did you know there is division? I do not know about that. That is not my understanding of what is happening.

Are you debating the Boko Haram menace tomorrow?
If it is matter of urgent national importance, it will be discussed.

How about the state governors’ stand on the new minimum wage?
Why do you not allow me to do what is legislative. Am I a governor?

Sir, are you worried about the Boko Haram?
I am not worried by anything. I am just worried by the way we are going to move forward as fast as possible and I sure you are also worried about that.

How about a review of the existing revenue formula?
The issue of revenue formula has been on the table for years and I am sure you know that. It is a constitutional issue; we are amending the constitution. Anything that can be amended, anything that is not in the best spirit of national unity at the moment, but it is not just revenue formula. So there is no question of picking out revenue formula as just an issue. It is a constitutional issue.

Sir, will you tell us who you are going to work with as the leader of the Senate?
I will work with who ever the leader of the Senate is.”

Meanwhile, a fresh twist appeared in the race to secure presidential endorsement as ministerial nominees on Monday, following reports that senators have come under intense pressure from some lobbyists in their attempt to stop some of the nominees.

It was gathered that after most of the lobbyists met a brick wall at the presidency in their bid to stop some nominees, they resolved to take the battle to the Senate, where petitions started coming in on Monday.

Following media reports indicating the possible ministerial list sent by President Jonathan to the security agencies and the fact that the Senate would reconvene today, sources confirmed that some senators had come under intense pressure to block the chances of some of the nominees considered as controversial.

It was earlier gathered that many of the lobbyists had pressurised top operatives of the security agencies handling the screening of ministerial nominees, forcing the agencies to refrain from turning in judgmental reports to the presidency.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that some of the nominees, who had come under intense attacks of the lobbyists, included former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed; former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke; former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe; the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed, among others.

The Senate is set to unveil the list of the first batch of ministerial nominees at its plenary session today, as it has been confirmed that the NASS already has the list forwarded to it by the presidency.

Former chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Smart Adeyemi, who confirmed he was one of those that had come under pressure, said issues being raised by some lobbyists lacked foundation.

The senator told the Nigerian Tribune in an interview that former ministers, who had been re-nominated, were the major victims of the ongoing lobbying.

He, however, said the spirited lobbying would not affect the judgment of the senators, adding that the nominees would be cleared on their merit.

“We have been under intense pressure by lobbyists and political hired mercenaries to stop some nominees from being cleared or to disqualify some nominees by asking questions to embarrass them and stop them.

“They (lobbyists) have given many of us sleepless nights with offer of millions of Naira so as to discredit some nominees.

“But, to some of us, this will not in any way affect the screening. The screening will follow the normal pattern,” he said.