Senate Okays Buhari’s Request For 15 Special Advisers

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja – The Senate has approved President Muhamnadu Buhari’s request for appointments of 15 Special Advisers.

Buhari had in a two-paragraph letter dated June 2, 2015 and read by Senate President, David Mark asked the Senate for an approval to appoint special advisers in line with Section 151 (1-3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The President did not, however, disclose the identities of the Special Advisers.

The letter reads in part: “Pursuant to the provision of Section 151 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which confers on me to appoint Special Advisers to assist me in the performance of my functions, I write to request for your kind consideration and approval of the Distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic to appoint fifteen (15) Special Advisers as prescribed in Section 151 (2-3) of the Constitution”.

Unlike ministerial list, the president does not need to disclose identities of the special advisers in his letter to the senate.

When the issue was raised on Wednesday, President of Senate, David Mark said that there was no need to dissolve into the committee of the whole before given the approval.

Therefore, Senators in a unanimous voice vote approved the request when Mark put the question to vote.