Following the resignation of Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, over alleged certificate forgery, Senator Ali Ndume has said the Senate is not responsible for screening presidential nominees.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made this known during an interview on Politics Today, a political programme aired on Channels Television. He clarified that the Senate’s role is strictly to confirm nominees, not to conduct background checks or screen them for qualifications.
“We are not screening, get this clear. Screening and confirmation are two different things,” he said. “Before the president sends a candidate to the Senate, several processes are involved, including checks by the DSS. The DSS has to clear the person first.”
Ndume’s remarks come amid rising criticism over how individuals with questionable credentials are getting appointed into key government positions. The resignation of Uche Nnaji earlier in the week sparked fresh debates about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s nomination and confirmation process.
The senator stressed that security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), are responsible for vetting nominees before their names are forwarded to the Senate by the President.
According to Ndume, “If the DSS raises a red flag, the Senate can reject the nominee. We have done that in the past. So don’t say we are not doing our job. We don’t do screening; we only confirm.”
He recalled a past case where a nominee was rejected based on a negative security report from the DSS. He insisted that the Senate acted on the intelligence provided and did not proceed with the confirmation.
Addressing the larger issue of certificate forgery, Ndume said it is a widespread problem in Nigeria, cutting across sectors, not just politics.
“This issue of forgery is a big problem in Nigeria. It’s not just among politicians. Everyone has classmates, including Nnaji,” he added, referring to the lack of public evidence from the former minister’s alleged academic peers.
Ndume’s explanation seeks to redirect public concern toward the security and background verification process, which is largely carried out by the executive arm and its agencies.
His comments also highlight the limitations of the legislative arm in thoroughly vetting presidential nominees, especially when they rely on the integrity of the reports forwarded to them.
As calls for reform in Nigeria’s public appointment process grow louder, Ndume’s remarks may spark further debate on whether the Senate should be given greater powers or tools to verify the credentials and integrity of nominees beyond just relying on security reports.
For now, the senator insists the Senate has done its part and should not be blamed for the lapses in the system.
