ACEPA criticizes appointments committee for poor handling of nominee vetting

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The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing vetting process for ministerial nominees, calling it unsatisfactory. ACEPA argues that the conduct of lawmakers from both sides of Parliament has hindered the process, preventing the thorough examination of nominees on critical national issues.

 

Speaking to Citi News, Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of ACEPA, stressed the need to reassess the Appointments Committee’s approach to ensure the vetting process achieves its intended goal.

 

Dr. Draman suggested that the operational framework of the Appointments Committee should be revisited to improve its effectiveness. He pointed out that the current process does not allow for an in-depth review of nominees on pressing national matters.

 

“I think this process has been very unsatisfactory. There is a need for some serious rethinking about how the Appointments Committee conducts its business. We see, first of all, Members of Parliament, particularly those from the Minority, missing a very important opportunity to exact accountability from nominees,” he said.

 

He also criticized the focus of the Minority MPs, saying they concentrate on trivial issues that fail to address the competence, integrity, and suitability of the nominees for their respective ministries. “They focus on trivial issues, issues that are not speaking to the competence, the integrity, and the fit of the person to the ministry or department that he or she is going to,” he noted.

 

On the Majority side, Dr. Draman argued that the process has been reduced to a less serious affair, with MPs treating the vetting as a “friendly match” since many of the nominees are from the same party. “On the side of the members of the Majority, I think they have turned this whole process into some kind of friendly match. I mean, it is their colleagues from the same party, but I think we still have to take this business very seriously,” he added.

 

ACEPA’s comments follow widespread public criticism of the vetting process, with many urging Parliament to focus more on substance and less on partisan interests during these crucial discussions.

 

 

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