NIGERIAN SENATE'S DISSATISFACTION WITH MINISTERS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001966 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINR NI SUBJECT: NIGERIAN SENATE'S DISSATISFACTION WITH MINISTERS, LACK OF NEW LIST Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Lisa Piascik for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) PolOff spoke with Jonathan "Tunde" Mark (strictly protect),son of Nigerian Senate President David Mark, who also serves as his father's Special Assistant for Special Duties on October 6, about whether the Senate had yet received the list of proposed new ministerial nominations. (NOTE: Reports circulated the week of September 22 that the list of ministerial nominations had already been sent to the Senate, which was on recess for the Eid El-Fitr holidays.) The younger Mark said that the the Senate leadership has not seen it, nor to their knowledge have any members, and added that anger was building as it has not been forthcoming. He added, "Pretty much everybody (in the Senate) realizes that 99 percent of the Ministers have done jack (bleep) in the last year, and none of the distinguished members are happy about it. We gave the ministerial nominees a pass last time as a courtesy to His Excellency (President Yar'Adua),but that will not be the case this time around." He further described the attitude in the Senate as "militant" at this point, and noted that the upper chamber has been patiently awaiting the reshuffle since May, a patience that is now all but gone. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Tunde Mark's criticism of the Yar'Adua's administration's lack of progress on even priority issues is characteristic of the general mood of the Nigerian elite. It should be noted, however, that the National Assembly's legislative accomplishments to date have also been criticized as disappointing and few. While most believe a Cabinet reshuffle is coming (and few would disagree that it is needed),the question of the day remains "When?" The continued postponement of an announcement does not bode well for Yar'Adua and will do little more than further contribute to speculation on his health and ability to govern. END COMMENT. ¶3. (U) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos. Piascik