Following the successful screening of 31 out of 43 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari, the security agencies have begun profiling them, LEADERSHIP Sunday has gathered.

It was gathered that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies are currently capturing the fingerprints and other information of the would-be cabinet members for effective documentation.

Sources told LEADERSHIP Sunday that after the profiling of the ministerial nominees by the security agencies, a report would be sent to the Senate before the lawmakers take their final decision.

Sources disclosed that the security screening ought to have been completed before the names of the ministerial nominees were sent to the Red Chamber for screening and confirmation; however those close to the process say there is no cause for alarm as a comprehensive report would be given to the senators before they take their final decision on those they cleared.

It was gathered that the presidency is working hand in hand with the security agencies in the profiling process of the potential cabinet members.

The fingerprints and other data of some of the already screened ministerial nominees have been captured by both the Police and the DSS, it was gathered.

The presidential adviser to the president on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen Ita Enang, confirmed the development to LEADERSHIP Sunday.

At present, the police, the DSS and other institutions are now profiling and documenting the ministerial nominees that have been screened by the Senate.

It was gathered that the security profiling process, which have started, will go on throughout the weekend, and on Monday and Tuesday.

“Some of them have already gotten the clearance; some of them we are working on them.

“We are working on all those who will be screened (in order) to release them to the DSS and to go also for fingerprint profiling to the police and other security agencies.”

“We are working round the clock and we are conscious that we will finish within time and release them to the Senate so that they can take their final decision,” Enang said.

The presidential liaison to the Senate expressed happiness about the entire process so far and thanked the Senate President Ahmed Lawan, his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the entire Senate for what he described asunprecedented show of commitment and solidarity with the people of Nigeria in the admirable manner they were conducting the ministerial screening.

“Let me also use this opportunity to appreciate Mr President because of the quality of nominees that he has sent in, their background in their respective fields of endeavour, and even in matters outside their fields, they were able to answer questions and also lead in their presentation. It shows Mr President went into inner intellectual and political researches to bring the nominees that will run the next level team,” he said.

Enang also commended the nominees for the brilliant way they have acquitted themselves and justified Mr President’s decision to nominate them.

He said: “For Mr President to have sent them here shows the beginning of their investment in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They have acquitted themselves and showed the capacity they are made up.

“I want to finally thank the Senate; they are concluding on Tuesday by God’s grace, all things being equal.

“Like you know, this is a period the legislators are supposed to go on vacation. They were supposed to start the vacation last week. They have extended it till this week and will also made sure the nominees are screen and cleared before they proceed on their vacation. This is a great sacrifice they have made.

“On our part as liaison, we will be working with the security agencies, the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) and other institutions which may need their clearance and their documentation for the purposes of security throughout the weekend, on Monday and Tuesday. Some of them have already gotten the clearance; some of them, we are working on them.

“We are working on all those who will be screened to release them to the DSS and to go also for fingerprint profiling to the police and other security agencies.”

He also commended the members of the Senate press corps for the way they have reported the event.

On the issue of ‘take a bow and go’ for some nominees, Enang said the President of the Senate had explained the tradition.

“For you to be nominated as a minister, you must be qualified to be a member of the House of Representatives. And so, it is taken that you are qualified and already been screened.

“And for you to be a member of the House of Representatives or a member of the Senate, it is taken that you are the person who earlier screened and passed other persons.

“Having been a member of this institution, you are deemed to have gone through all the tests. Unless there is something that happened after your tenure, only then can a question arise. “And that is not a matter for the Senate; it is a matter of the security agencies.

“But the Senate is right in saying that if you were a member of the House of Representatives or Senate you are deemed to be qualified and nothing has happened to demean that and it’s a tradition that started even in the US Congress and the Senate. It’s a parliamentary tradition everywhere because you have known them; you have had the opportunity of profiling them,” Enang added.

•Excerpted from a LEADERSHIP Sunday report.