The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has raised concerns about the ongoing vetting of ministerial nominees, describing the process as unsatisfactory and lacking thorough scrutiny of critical national issues.
Dr. Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of ACEPA, criticised the conduct of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, noting that members from both sides of the House have failed to rigorously interrogate nominees.
“There is a need for some serious rethinking about how the Appointments Committee conducts its business. Members of Parliament, particularly from the minority, are missing an important opportunity to exact accountability from nominees,” Dr. Draman told Citi News.
Key Concerns Highlighted:
- Trivial Focus: ACEPA observed that MPs from the minority often focused on irrelevant issues rather than assessing nominees’ competence, integrity, and suitability for their roles.
- Partisan Bias: Majority members were accused of treating the process as a “friendly match,” prioritising party loyalty over substantive evaluation.
- Lack of Accountability: The current approach, ACEPA argued, undermines the purpose of the vetting process, which is to hold nominees accountable and ensure they are fit for their portfolios.
Dr. Draman called for a reassessment of the Appointments Committee’s operational framework to improve its effectiveness, emphasising that Parliament must take the vetting process more seriously to address pressing national issues.