The Senate is set to commence screening on Tuesday (today) for the seven ministerial nominees recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
This follows President Tinubu’s formal request to the Senate for confirmation of the new ministerial nominees.
Senator Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the ministerial nominees have started documentation in preparation for their screening and confirmation by the Senate.
He noted that the nominees are currently submitting required documents as the first step in the screening and confirmation process.
The Senate is expected to screen and confirm the nominees in line with Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The President, shortly after announcing the nominations last week, wrote to the upper chamber, requesting the lawmakers’ consideration and confirmation of the seven nominees for ministerial positions.
The nominees include Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction), Muhammadu Dingyadi (Labour and Employment), Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (State, Foreign Affairs), and Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment).
Others are Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development), Yusuf Ata (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Ahmad (State, Education).
This confirmation request follows Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle. The President dismissed five ministers, redeployed 10 others, and appointed seven new ministers.
Those dismissed include Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs, Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism, Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education, Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.
Following these changes, Tinubu appointed seven new ministers. Among the reassigned were Yusuf Sununu, who moved from Minister of State, Education to Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Olatunji Alausa was reassigned to Minister of Education, leaving his former role as Minister of State, Health.
Bello Goronyo was reassigned from Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation to Minister of State, Works.
Abubakar Momoh transitioned from Minister of Niger Delta Development to Minister of Regional Development.
Uba Maigari Ahmadu was reassigned from Minister of State, Steel Development to Minister of State, Regional Development.
Doris Uzoka-Anite, formerly Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, was reassigned as Minister of State, Finance, to assist the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
Sports Minister John Enoh was reassigned as the new Minister of State, Trade and Investment.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim transitioned from Minister of State, Police Affairs to Minister of Women Affairs.
Ayodele Olawande was elevated from Minister of State for Youth Development to Minister of Youth Development.
Iziak Salako, Minister of State, Environment, was reassigned as Minister of State, Health.