Rochas Okorocha, a former Imo state governor currently representing Imo west at the Senate has argued for the creation of happiness ministry to tackle incessant cases of suicide rocking the country.
The lawmaker said this on Tuesday while contributing to a debate on a motion, “rising incidence of suicides amongst Nigerians ” sponsored by Theodore Orji, senator representing Abia central and former Abia state governor.
Okorocha said that many people commit suicide because they have no one to share their feelings.
“Mr. Senate president, may I suggest that whether it’s the issue of rape, suicide, let us create a department to address these issues,” he said.
“Ministry of health is not up to that, Police is not equipped for that, ministry of information is not equipped for that, we must have a department where people can go and express themselves – that ministry must be a ministry or department of happiness.
“All our prayers appear to me as though we are embarking on an academic exercise that might not reflect any practical reality.
“A step should be further taken to find out why these people are not happy to the extent that they will take their life.”
Recall in 2007, Mr Okorocha created the Ministry of Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment in Imo State much to the surprise of Nigerians who questioned the need and function of such ministry.
The Senate has said that it is waiting for the Presidency to submit the list of ministerial nominees, anytime they are ready.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, said this on Tuesday while addressing reporters in Abuja.
The Senate noted that it has no constitutional power to demand the list from the Presidency.
He said: “That is the prerogative of the Executive. We are not going to help them to do their job. The Senate cannot generate the list of ministers on its own.
“It is the prerogative of the president to send his ministerial nominee list to the Senate and when he does that we will consider it.
“That is our constitutional mandate. It is not even within our powers to even advise. We will wait until the matter is transmitted to us.
“The executive is aware of the timetable of the Senate. There is a particular time the Senate will go on recess. That being in mind they should be mindful of when they will carry out this constitutional responsibility.
“That is our constitutional mandate but it is not within our power to even advise or anything, so we will wait until the list is submitted. I will not say anything more than that.
“I don’t think this matter should worry any Nigerian. We are supposed to receive the letter with the list of ministerial nominee transmitted to the Senate.
If a thing is not my job, why should it worry me? When the list comes to us, Nigerians will look at the time the list arrives here and the time the list is approved.
“Let me tell you one thing, the executive is aware and most Nigerians are aware of the timetable of the Senate.
“When the matter comes before us, we will look at it and carry out our constitutional responsibility.”
