Senate is within its rights in the screening of ex-governor – SSA

The Senate is within its right in the screening Rotimi Amaechi without first considering the report of the petition of corruption leveled against the nominee.

Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), made the statement on Monday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that APC and PDP senators had disagreed over the screening of the nominee.

But the senate went on with the screening with PDP senators not posing any question to the nominee.

Enang told newsmen on Monday in Abuja that the senate was within its rights to regulate itself and its activities.

He said: "they (senators) are within their constitutional right to regulate their own proceedings.

"The constitution authorises the senate and House of Representatives and every legislative House to regulate its own proceedings, including managing matters that are brought before them.

"Therefore, what the senate did is domestic to the Senate and I am not in a position to speak about it; they are within their constitutional right.’’

The SSA commended the senate and its leadership for the 'matured’ way it carried out the screening of ministerial nominees.

He said that contrary to the expectations of many Nigerians that the process would be characterised by rancor and personal attacks, the Senate had disappointed pessimists by undertaking smooth screening.

"Let me express our very sincere appreciation to his Excellency, the President of the Senate, the Deputy President of the Senate, APC and PDP leadership for the painstaking process of screening the nominees.

"They have shown the candor and real characteristics nature of matured senate.

"I want to thank them in words that I cannot describe; we are very grateful to them and we are confident that the few that are remaining will be concluded in no distant future.

"Nigerians thought that the process will be very tumultuous and rancorous, but the senators in the course of their questions showed their intellect and their appreciation of national issues,’’ he said.

He also commended the media for their reportage of the screening.

Enang used the opportunity to announce that the University of Uyo would be awarding him (Enang) honorary doctorate degree in law (LLD) on Oct. 31.

"I will be conferred and I have accepted to be conferred with LLD of the University of Uyo on 31st of this month,” he said.