Senate screens more ambassadorial nominees
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday screened 19 more nominees for ambassadorial posting outside the country. So far, 34 of the 47 nominees who are career foreign service officers have been screened.
Those screened yesterday include; Sunday Itegboye (Edo), Iliyasu . A. Paragalda (Adamawa), Iyang Udoh-Inyang (Akwa-Ibom), Obinna Chukwuemeka Agbugba (Abia),
Martins Nyong Cobham (Cross River), Ngozi Ukaeje( Imo), Rahmatu Dunama (Taraba), Nonye Esther Udo (Anambra), Munir Liman( Bauchi) and Odeka Janet Bisong (Cross River).
Others were; Umaru Zainab-Salisu (Kebbi), Momoh Sheidu Omeiza( Kogi) Kabiru Bala( Zamfara), Queen Worlu(Edo), Abibat Sonaike (Ogun), Michael Femi Abikoye (Kwara), Musa Saban Mamman (Yobe), Bello Kazaure (Jigawa) and Adesesan Olatunde (Ekiti).
In their submissions, the nominees advocated for a review of the country’s foreign policy to reflect the present needs and aspirations of the country.
They decried the poor funding of Nigeria’s missions abroad. In his submission, the nominee from Adamawa, Paragalda, advised the federal government to push forward the ECOWAS single currency for development of the region.
The committee yesterday relaxed test on recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge on the second day of screening.
Unlike on Tuesday when the nominees were asked to recite the National Anthem, Pledge, states and their capitals, the committee members grilled the envoys on only diplomacy and Foreign Affairs yesterday.
Five of the 15 nominees screened Tuesday had some difficulties with the recitation of National Anthem, Pledge and knowledge of some state capitals.
Out of the 19 screened yesterday, only one was asked to recite the National Pledge.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, said screening of the remaining 13 nominees would be done today.