*N-Assembly to host presidential inauguration

By Luka Binniyat

ABUJA—The House of Representatives and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, yesterday failed to agree on the need to enact a law that would force the president to allocate a portfolio to his Ministerial nominees before facing the Senate for screening.

The Bill also stipulates that after clearance and confirmation, the president was bound to appoint an appointee to the stipulated portfolio.

The Bill also seeks to compel the president to attach with it and forward all the security clearance of nominated ministers.

But, the Reps and the SGF agreed on a bill that seeks to make the premises of the National Assembly the authorised place for future inauguration of  future elected presidents and their deputies.

These developments took place at a Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives on Intergovernmental Affairs on the two bills.

Secretary to the Federal Government, Yayale Ahmed, who was represented by the Legal Adviser to the office of the SGF, Mallam Abdullamid Ibrahim, said attaching a portfolio to a ministerial nominee before his screening and confirmation by the Senate would be an infringement on the executive  powers of the president.