Ministerial nominees have commenced submitting documentation in preparation for their screening and confirmation by the Senate, which begins today (Tuesday).
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, shared the update on Monday evening and noted that nominees were already submitting the required documents as the first step in the Senate’s confirmation process.
According to Lado, “The nominees are expected to be screened and confirmed by the Senate in compliance with Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Last Thursday, the Senate received President Tinubu’s formal request for the screening and confirmation of seven ministerial nominees.
This request, contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was read at the start of the plenary.
The nominees listed in President Tinubu’s letter include Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State, Foreign Affairs; Dr Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Development; Idi Muktar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as Minister of State, Housing; and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State, Education.
President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite its review of the nominees, aiming to fill critical roles in his administration.
Senate President Akpabio has since referred the President’s request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
This development follows President Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle, in which five ministers were dismissed: Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs); Lola Ade-John (Tourism); Prof Tahir Mamman (Education); Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (State, Housing and Urban Development); and Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth).
The Senate’s screening process today will be the first opportunity to evaluate the qualifications and agendas of the new nominees as they prepare to take on their respective roles.
