Lawan thanks senators for ‘sacrifice’ made in ministerial screening

Ahmed Lawan

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has thanked his colleagues for the sacrifices they have put in in ensuring that the screening of ministerial nominees is completely quickly.

The screening of ministerial nominees began on Wednesday and will continue on Monday, July 29.

In a tweet on Saturday, the Senate President said in his 20 years in the parliament, he had not seen lawmakers sit all day to perform their duties.

“Since my twenty years in the parliament, I have never witnessed such an unusual situation where Senators will seat a day-long to perform their legislative duties, screening ministers. I want to thank my colleagues for the immense sacrifice they made in this regard,” he said.

The Senate has, however, come under criticism for its ‘take a bow’ tradition which allows nominees to leave without being questioned.

The term ‘take a bow’ is reserved for nominees who are former members of the National Assembly, allowing them to simply bow before the lawmakers and leave without being questioned.

Lawan has also extended the privilege to former members of state assemblies and women.