By Na’Allah Muhammad Zagga
The removal of Sabo Nanono and Saleh Mamman as Ministers once again reveals the flaws of not subjecting ministerial nominees to grilling by the Senate. The policy of take a bow and go renders the entire screening process a total joke. Agriculture is a key economic issue; so is power critical to national infrastructure and the economy. It seems we trivialise issues in Nigeria. Even in the name of party loyalty, you can’t ask a bricklayer to go and head biology department!
Portfolios should be attached to the names of
nominees so that they can answer questions in respect of their competence and experience or track record. Joe Biden announced his cabinet within days of his confirmation as President-elect and he named their portfolios side by side.
Besides, the US Congress subjects nominees to rigorous scrutiny, even from their fellow party members. No politician should be shielded from scrutiny. Being an elder should not be used as a privilege to protect any party nominee from scrutiny. Nigeria should take the screening of nominees seriously. Normalising and tolerating incompetence has disastrous consequences.
