Yari: Ministerial Nominees Sent to Senate By Tinubu are Credible

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

A member of the National Assembly, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has commended the credibility and  quality of the 28 ministerial nominees so far submitted by President Bola Tinubu for screening by the Senate.

Yari spoke to newsmen on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting with Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja. 

The lawmaker, a former Governor of Zamfara State, said the responses of the nominees screened so far have been “satisfactory”, adding that the red chamber will ensure that square pegs are put in square holes in terms of eventual appointments.   

Yari, who also expressed satisfaction with the capacity of each of them, noted that: “So far, those that we went through, they have answered questions satisfactorily and we are going to do our best to ensure that we put them on for the job.”

According to him, “We are doing our best through what has been presented to us as we ask you questions according to your discipline, and what we are expecting from you. For instance, if you know of water resources, issues of finances, education and health, we centre our questions on what your profession is.

“It’s not about having credentials, not only having experience but sometimes it’s about the office you are holding. So, you have to do your own best.”

Commenting on criticisms dogging the “take a bow go” screening method employed by the lawmakers for sme nominees, Yari explained that: “Yes, take a bow and go is a tradition. Anybody you would have seen, ‘take a bow and go’, is  the prominent citizens that serve the country for a long period or his or her track record is known to every Nigerian.

“The National Assembly has a tradition, if you served as a senator or an honourable member, it’s an honour to read your CV and maybe explain yourself which they all have the record to ask you to take a bow and go. 

“But where we need to do a thorough job for Nigerians, we used to do it, and you can see. So, we are doing our best to ensure that we thoroughly interrogate the nominees and decide their fate for Nigerians.”