The Senate has confirmed all seven ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu for expedited consideration last week.
This confirmation followed the nominees’ screening by the Senate on Wednesday, after a session originally scheduled for Tuesday was postponed. To facilitate the process, the Senate suspended its rule to admit the nominees.
The screening began with Nentawe Yilwatda, appointed to replace Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Other nominees screened included Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu for Minister of State, Foreign Affairs; Maigari Dingyadi for Minister of Labour and Employment; and Jumoke Oduwole for Minister of Industry.
Also reviewed were Idi Maiha for the new Ministry of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata for Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad for Minister of State, Education. Each nominee responded to questions on effectively managing their designated ministries, satisfying the Senate members who subsequently confirmed their appointments.
President Tinubu had announced last Wednesday a cabinet reshuffle, removing five ministers, reassigning ten to new roles, and appointing seven new nominees for Senate confirmation.
Among those dismissed were Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development.
Notable reassignments included Yusuf Sununu, moved from Minister of State, Education to Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Olatunji Alausa, now Minister of Education; Bello Goronyo, reassigned from Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation to Minister of State, Works; and Abubakar Momoh, shifted from Minister of Niger Delta Development to Minister of Regional Development.
Tinubu reassigned Uba Maigari Ahmadu as Minister of State, Regional Development, from his previous portfolio as Minister of State, Steel Development.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, was reassigned as Minister of State Finance to deputised the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
President Tinubu reassigned Sports Minister John Enoh as the new Minister of State, Trade and Investment.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was removed as Minister of State, Police Affairs and reassigned as Minister of Women Affairs.
Ayodele Olawande was elevated as Minister of Youth Development from his initial portfolio as Minister of State for Youth Development.
Minister of State, Environment, Iziak Salako was reassigned as Minister of State, Health.