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Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has said the Senate will formally communicate its observations on the ongoing ambassadorial screening to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly concerns over the “lopsided” composition of the nominees.
Ndume explained why he eventually joined his colleagues on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to screen the list of ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the Senate by the President penultimate week, despite earlier calling for the withdrawal of the list.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Abuja, Ndume disclosed that he was persuaded by his colleagues not to boycott the screening process, following assurances that the committee’s concerns would be clearly captured in its final report to the President.
“I still maintain that the list is lopsided. At the committee level, I raised a constitutional point of order during our meeting. We agreed to proceed with the screening, but with a clear understanding that our report will advise Mr President to ensure that the remaining nominations are balanced in line with the federal character principle,” he said.
On the eve of the screening, the senator had urged President Tinubu to reconsider the nominations, citing alleged violations of the federal character principle.
He argued that the list did not reflect equitable representation of states and geopolitical zones, contrary to Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that the composition of the federal government must reflect the diversity of Nigeria to promote national unity and loyalty.
According to him, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs resolved that its observations would be conveyed to President Tinubu, with a recommendation that states currently excluded from the nominations be accommodated in subsequent submissions.
Ndume noted that Nigeria currently has 109 foreign missions, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates, a number he said provides sufficient room for fair representation across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“For non-career ambassadors, each state should have at least one nominee to ensure balance. States like Gombe and Yobe were not captured at all, while some states have only career ambassadors, who are essentially non-political appointees,” he said.
He further suggested that a combination of career and non-career ambassadors could be used to address the imbalance, proposing that each state should have between two and three ambassadors, including at least one career diplomat.
“With 109 missions, it is possible to accommodate up to three ambassadors per state, combining career and non-career appointments. That approach will adequately address the concerns of lopsidedness and prevent any breach of Section 14(3) of the Constitution,” he added.
The senator stressed that ensuring equitable representation in ambassadorial appointments was critical for fostering national cohesion, adding that Nigeria’s diversity must be reflected in key national appointments, especially those representing the country abroad.
