The Nigerian Senate is set to commence screening today for the seven new ministerial nominees submitted for confirmation by President Bola Tinubu.
The nominees, already cleared by the Department of State Services, crowded the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, on Monday to submit their curriculum vitae in a bid to meet the submission deadline.
Notably, nominees for the Ministries of Education, Trade and Investment, and Livestock Development arrived early to finalize their document submission. Senator Lado confirmed in a statement that the nominees had begun the documentation process ahead of today’s screening and confirmation by the Senate.
The statement read, “The nominees were already submitting relevant documents as the first in the series of procedures for the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees. The nominees are expected to be screened and confirmed by the Senate in compliance with Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).”
President Tinubu had previously submitted a formal request to the Senate for the confirmation of the appointments. The request, contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was read at last Thursday’s plenary.
The seven nominees listed by President Tinubu for various roles include:
– Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
– Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment
– Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
– Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment
– Idi Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development
– Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State for Housing
– Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, Minister of State for Education
In his letter, President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the nominees. Following this request, Senate President Akpabio directed the review to the Committee of the Whole for immediate action, stating, “Distinguished colleagues, the presidential request is referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration very soon.”
Senate screens ministerial nominees today
The screening is anticipated to assess the nominees’ qualifications and readiness to assume their ministerial roles under the Tinubu administration.
