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The Nigerian Senate has confirmed all 47 career diplomats nominated as ambassadors by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The confirmation on Tuesday after the committee on foreign affairs presented its screening report on the floor of the house.
While presenting the screening report, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu said Seniority, Gender Balance and Remaining Years of Service were looked at in screening the nominees.
She however regretted that some of them could not sing the national anthem.
According to her 14 nominees couldnt sing the National Anthem and 4 couldn’t recite the National Pledge.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi said that he expected the committee to single out the names of the nominees that couldnt sing the national anthem and drop them. He said it was a serious issue as an ambassador is a country’s representative abroad.
But Senate Leader, Ali Ndume disagreed, saying that the nominees be allowed to get to the peak of their careers before retiring even as the national anthem is important.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa added that it was only fright that made two nominees to be unable to sing the anthem.
After considering the report, Senate President Bukola Saraki officially put the question and Senate confirmed all the 47 Career Ambassadorial Nominees on the list.