PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting that three more ministerial nominees be confirmed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from President Tinubu requesting approval of the nominations when the senators returned to plenary session today.
The nominees are Balarabe Abbas Lawal of Kaduna State, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim of Kwara State, an Ayodele Olawande of Ondo State.
In August 2023, the Senate vetted and confirmed 45 cabinet nominations, rejecting three of them. Notable among those not confirmed is former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai while the remaining two are Stella Okotete of Delta State and Abubakar Danladi of Taraba State.
During the screening, a lawmaker expressed concern over a “serious petition” against El-Rufai.
Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West had brought the petitions against the former FCT minister to the attention of the lawmakers.
“Your performance in any office you find yourself in the country has been outstanding. In the Bureau of Public Enterprises, your record is there, in FCT as a minister, your record is there, and as two-time governor of Kaduna state, you did well,” he said after El-Rufai’s presentation.
“But, I have a very strong petition against you that borders on security, unity, and cohesiveness of the Nigerian nation,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker added. “And I think that the petition has to be considered in this screening exercise.”
