Legislative Consultant and Public Policy Analyst Chibuzo Okereke says the drama that unfolded during the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee’s screening of ambassadorial nominees exposed a fundamental misunderstanding of legislative procedure, stressing that no Senate committee has the constitutional power to confirm any nominee.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Okereke described the confrontation between Senators Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole as “an unfortunate scenario” rooted in procedural breaches and weak committee leadership.
Okereke said the public had been misled by declarations from the screening room.
“As long as Nigerian laws are concerned, particularly the Standing Orders of the Senate, there is no committee conducting screening that has power to confirm anybody. It has to go to the Senate floor. For all it takes, the entire report of a committee can be thrown away when it comes up for consideration.”
He said the screening committees were acting beyond their limits.
“These committees conducting screening appear not to be aware of the provisions of the Constitution — the limitation of the powers of the committee as opposed to the powers of the Senate at plenary.”
On the heated exchange over Reno Omokri’s nomination, Okereke said both senators violated procedural rules.
“Both Senator Ndume and Senator Oshiomhole breached Order 52 of the Senate Standing Orders. That Order is on rules of debate and how you engage with your colleagues.”
He added that the clash was fuelled by flawed assumptions.
“It appears Senator Ndume pre-empted that Senator Oshiomhole wanted to stall the screening of Reno Omokri. At the end of the day, it was an unfounded accusation. Both of them were on the same page.”
Okereke criticised the committee chair for losing control of proceedings.
“The chairman appeared not to be in charge of the committee. If there is a motion on the table which has not been vacated by way of seconding it or ruling by the chairman, it is not the fault of any senator who wishes to speak.”
He said the incident reflected poor capacity and a lack of understanding of legislative norms.
“High turnover contributes significantly to some of these behaviours, as does lack of capacity building in legislative practice. The chairman ought to have managed the committee better.”
Okereke said the Senate must take internal discipline seriously.
“In the committee report, what ensued should feature significantly. And if possible, both senators should be committed to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for breaching Order 52.”
He recalled a past incident where the Senate President invoked disciplinary powers.
“When a similar situation happened during the screening of the now Minister of Defence, the Senate President had to invoke Order 62. When the presiding officer rises, everyone should keep quiet. We didn’t see the chairman do that.”
Okereke also warned that the perception that the Senate will approve anything the President sends is influencing committee behaviour.
“A kind of psychological conditioning has influenced committees to assume powers they do not have. We are not like the United States where the committee system has finality of decision. Our Constitution is different.”
He insisted that legislative power must be respected.
“This is a collegial assembly where decision-making is collective. Majority will have their way, but minority must have their say.”
Boluwatife Enome
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