The Senate has directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate alleged omission of Bayelsa State from the list of ambassadorial nominees.
The directive followed a Point of Order raised by Sen. Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa Central) at plenary on Tuesday.
The lawmaker said his attention was drawn to the omission by his constituents, shortly after the list was read in the Senate on June 9.
He described the omission as “a clear violation of the Constitution, which gave credence to federal character.’’
“Few days ago the President of the Senate read the communication of President Muhammadu Buhari on the floor of the senate regarding ambassadorial nominees.
“ As we left here my staff and colleagues were inundated with different calls drawing their attention that no nominee from Bayelsa state was on the list.
“I thought it was not true but as I went through the list, it confirmed the fears expressed by our constituents,’’ Paulker said.
The lawmaker explained that records had it that there were two deputy directors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who qualified to be on the list.
He said that while some states had up to three nominees on the list, Bayelsa was not represented.
He called on the senate to communicate the presidency on the omission so that justice would be done.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, urged the committee on foreign affairs to investigate the claim and report back to the senate within the shortest possible time.
“In line with our rule, Sen. Paulker discussed this matter with me. I am happy that the Chairman Committee on Foreign Affairs is here; they will take a look at the matter,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on June 9, President Muhammadu Buhari sent a list of 47 career Foreign Service officers as ambassador designates to the Senate for consideration and confirmation.