Tinubu Advised On How To Submit Ministerial Nominees List

Two-term House of Representatives member, Dr Alex Egbona, has suggested that President Bola Tinubu should submit his list of ministerial nominees along with their proposed roles.

Egbona believes this will enable more relevant questions to be asked during the screening process.

Egbona, who represents the Abi/Yakurr federal constituency of Cross River State, also defended the Senate’s ‘bow and go’ policy.

This practice allows nominees with legislative experience to be exempted from rigorous questioning, as a gesture of comradeship.

Egbona made these remarks during an interview with journalists in Abuja at the graduation ceremony of Cohort 12 of the advanced leadership programme of the GOTNI National Leadership Centre.

The event, a five-day training program on leadership, saw 21 students graduate.

Dr. Linus Okorie, CEO of GOTNI LC, during the event called on the president to select ministers who are action-oriented and dedicated to serving beyond personal interests.

He said Tinubu must also “find individuals who are passionate in specific areas to take charge, those who have competence, knowledge, and have the leadership capital and have the capacity to think differently.

“There should be competence in the person’s specific field of study that is in line with the ministry that the individual is absolutely going to take care of.

“So what it means is that you will want to find individuals who are passionate in specific areas to take charge, who have competence, knowledge, and leadership capital, which means they must have honour written in their names and have the capacity to think differently. They would bring innovation to the table and are individuals who make things happen. They are action-oriented, filled with the pursuit of service, beyond self.”

Speaking further, Egbona said it is wrong to send names of ministers without portfolios.

Egbona said, “To some extent, it is wrong to send ministers’ names without portfolio. Though it is the senate arm of the national assembly that screens ministers we believe very soon, the president, in the next two to three weeks, will send the names of ministers and may even attach their portfolios.

“Most times, what the senate does is to ask general questions but if it comes with portfolio and they say for instance, Mr AYZ, you are the minister of agriculture, all the questions will be towards agric. So if the president attaches ministry to the names, it will be very good.”

The lawmaker who also graduated from the leadership training, reinforced his support for the Senate’s ‘bow and go’ policy. This policy relieves ministerial nominees with legislative experience from extensive questioning.

Egbona highlighted that this approach aims to display comradeship among individuals with similar legislative experience. However, he strongly emphasized the need for his fellow representatives to enhance the oversight function of the National Assembly.

The lawmaker said, “The bow and go culture is to promote comradeship. They are simply encouraging those that have been part of the system. Though there is no legal procedure for that, it is out of friendship.

“On oversight, in the 9th National Assembly, I have had the opportunity to attend some oversight but was not too encouraged with what we did. If you go to a ministry or parastatal, scrutinize what they are doing and if they are not doing well, bring a report saying they are not doing well. There should not be hide-and-seek business in oversight. That is what the 10th agenda is saying.”