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Tuesday 30 July 2019

Re: Senate’s bow and go tradition

I just saw the screamer, “Out of 43 ministerial nominees confirmed, 23 were asked to bow and go”.
This got me wondering or for the lack of a better word, I thought it absurd for the names to have gone to the Nigeria senate at the first instance. I will come out to this much later after I have touched on traditions in other climes that we seem to look up to a.k.a the U.S and the U.K.

In the U.K, there are no confirmation hearings. This way, the Prime Minister can appoint absolutely anyone he feels can serve under any portfolio as minister. The parliament cannot question his decision whatsoever. This means that a minister can oversee a ministry without have the prerequisite knowledge of the workings of that ministry.

The civil servants are relied upon with the minister being just a manager. It was in the news a couple of days ago that Mr. Boris Johnson, the new U.K prime minister appointed his brother as minister and heaven did not fall. This system of appointing ministers also affords the P.M the opportunity to reshuffle his cabinet seamlessly from time to time, case in point, a Sajid Javid can be Home Secretary for a year and Chancellor of the Exchequer( a.k.a Finance Minister), the next year.

In the U.S of A on the other hand, there are confirmation hearings for a president's cabinet nominees. Their qualifications, expertise and experience are thoroughly questioned and examined. Their knowledge of the agency or department they are being assigned to lead, is extensively queried. A president's appointee can be rejected by the Senate. 

I put that of the USA in bold letters so that you can immediately see immediately contrast the difference between both obviously tested and trusted systems, which is quite interesting. 

Nigeria seems to be a Pseudo UK/USA system, where some are asked to now and go and some others quizzed, some more intense than others. The “engineers” of this system probably have the best intentions but I am always averse to copying for the sake of it.

How well has Nigeria fared with this system of screening the president’s Cabinet members? Is there a review? Can a better system be enacted? Is there a need for screening at all in terms of the time, energy and resources expended? 

After all said and done, I cannot wait to see how people like Fashola will do this time in whatever capacity and how a “newbie” such as Sunday Dare will fare because I thought most of them were thoroughly brilliant. 

—— Oladele Fameso


Monday 29 July 2019

Kaduna State Government update on El-Zakzaky Trial


The Kaduna High Court today heard arguments pertaining to the application for medical leave filed by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

As the prosecuting authority in the matter of The State versus El-Zakzaky (KDH/KAD/60c/2018), the Kaduna State Government opposed the application for medical leave.

The court has now reserved ruling on the motion for medical leave till Monday, 5th August 2019.

It is pertinent to remind all parties to respect the ongoing legal process. Counsel representing the defendants in the case have been appearing before the Kaduna High Court. In August 2018, defendants’ counsel moved an application for bail, which the Kaduna High Court refused. The court confirmed that the defendants should remain in custody.

For the record, there is no court order against the Kaduna State Government in the El-Zakzaky matter. Sheikh El-Zakzaky is facing charges that include culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbance.

Counsels to the defendants have persisted in making public claims for the release of their clients, but no such an order has not been made in this matter by the Kaduna High Court.

Adherence to the rule of law obliges everyone to respect court processes and let the law follow its course.


Signed

Aisha Dikko
Attorney-General/Commissioner of Justice
29th July 2019

Excerpts from Fashola’s ministerial screening

Fashola, the former minister of works and housing, now a ministerial nominee, was yesterday screened at the National Assembly by the Senate and below are some extracts from the exercise.
1. Road projects are delayed because of lack of funding.
2. Federal projects were on going in all states of the federation
3. The Off-grid power initiative is gaining ground with the completion of the Ariaria and Sura markets and more coming to completion soon.
4. States have been empowered to generate and distribute power.
5. Ministry of Power ceased to be a major player. They only deal with regulation now