The Senate on Tuesday was only able to screen two ministerial nominees, as if responding to views by members of the public that the exercise had so far fallen short of expectations.

Earlier, it was announced that three nominees, Adebayo Shittu, Khadijja Abba Ibrahim and Claudius Omoleye Daramola, would be screened but only the first two were screened before the senators.

“The reason why we reduced the number of nominees is because we responded to the agitations and yearnings and the aspirations of Nigerians,” Senate spokesperson, Dino Melaye, who last week said at least eight nominees would be screened today, said.

“We have monitored the reactions of Nigerians on the issue of the ministerial screening and we found out that Nigerians believed that we are rushing the process and it was not as thorough as they would desire.

“We have agreed that we reduce to three or four per day so that the interaction and screening exercise will be more thorough and Nigerians will appreciate who is going to be their minister” he said.

Meanwhile, embattled former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi continues to wait for his screening, as he was mot slated for screening today.

Melaye had said last week that he would be attended to today along with some of those on the second ministerial list. He is now scheduled to be screened tomorrow, Wednesday.

According to the Senate spokesperson, the All Progressive Congress, APC, caucus in the red chamber has decided to back Amaechi’s nomination, while also suggesting that there are moves to lobby the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers to support the former governor.