Former governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi was dropped from ministerial screening at the last minute on Tuesday because lawmakers had resolved to have thorough screening of nominees, chairman of Senate ad-hoc committee on communication Senator Dino Melaye has said.

Four other nominees earlier listed were also dropped by the Senate.

Speaking to Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) during a live broadcast of proceedings at the red chambers monitored by Daily Trust reporter, Melaye said a decision had been reached to screen eight nominees today but that “after meetings by principal officers of the Senate, yesterday evening (Monday) and today (Tuesday), the Senate resolved to follow the demand of Nigerians who want a more thorough screening exercise”.

He said the senate has observed that “Nigerians have been complaining that the senate was rushing” the confirmation hearing.

Melaye said as a result of the new position to cut down on the number of nominees to be screened “to three or four per day,” the report by the senate’s ethics and public petition committee which was stepped down which is expected to pave the way for the screening of Amaechi and Aisha Mohammed.

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