Presidency refuses to amend Ambassadorial List rejected by senators

The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal has stated that the list of ambassadorial nominees rejected by the Nigerian senate a month ago cannot be ammended.


He spoke when he appeared before the senate with Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday.

Both men say there's no need for the nominees to be chose from the 36 states of the Federation as is the case with ministerial nominees.

The senate had rejected the list on grounds that it doesn't contain nominees from Ondo, Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Plateau states.

Babachir Lawal said the list was based on certain criteria and pointed out that the list showed substantial federal character principles, since people from 32 out of the 36 states were nominated.

He assured that the four omitted states will be compensated in the non-career list that would soon be forwarded to the Senate by the President.

The senate then retreated into a closed session for further discussion.