AUSTYN OGANNAH
Senate has mandated its Ethics and Privileges Committee to immediately investigate allegations in the media that senators have been bribed to sway their decision on the clearance of the ministerial nominees sent by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
This followed a complain by Senator Garuba lado (Katsina State) who drew the attention of the Senate to a publication on a national daily that some senators from Katsina and Kebbi States bribed senators to frustrate the clearance of the nominees in other to slow down the administration of the Acting President.
Lado who observed that he is from Katsina, the home state of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua said his privileges have been breached adding that the report has painted him and other senators from Katsina and Kebbi state in bad light.
Lado said neither him nor any senator from the said states gave bribe to any lawmaker to influence the screening and urged the Senate to investigate the allegation.
However, ruling on the issue, Senate President David Mark described the report as false and mischievous and directed the Ethics Committee chaired by Senator Umar Hambagda to immediately investigate the report and report back to Senate.
Meanwhile some senators have kicked against the position of minister of State in the country describing it as unconstitutional.
Senator Julius Ucha, (Ebonyi) who raised the issue on the floor on Monday said the constitution only provides for the office of minister and described the appointment of persons into the office of Minister of State, which started during the democratic administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as an aberration.
Section 147 (1) of the 1999 constitution provides that "there shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President."
Junior ministers in Nigeria are referred to as Ministers of State.
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