The Senate reconvened on Wednesday, August 02, 2023, for the third consecutive day to continue the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees.
The vetting process commenced on Monday, July 31, 2023, and has witnessed the scrutiny of several prominent individuals.
Today, the focus of the Senate’s attention was on five nominees who were invited for questioning and evaluation. The list of candidates scheduled for Wednesday’s screening includes presidential spokesman Dele Alake; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi; Muhammad Idris, Ali Pate, and Doris Uzoka.
On Tuesday, the Senate had diligently examined nine nominees, and the session was adjourned until Wednesday for further proceedings. Among those thoroughly screened were former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Wale Edun, Uche Nnaji, Stella Okotete, Adebayo Adelabu, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Hannatu Musawa, and Musa Dangiwa.
This follows the first round of screening on Monday, during which 14 nominees faced questions from the Senate. Some of the notable figures who underwent the scrutiny were former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Abubakar Kyari from Borno State; Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia State); Bello Muhammad (Sokoto State); Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State); and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa State). Additionally, Joseph Utsev (Benue State), Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Ondo State), Betta Edu (Cross River State), Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra State), Abubakar Momoh (Edo State), John Enoh (Cross River State), Iman Suleiman Ibrahim (Nasarawa State), and Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi State) were also among those screened.
According to Section 147 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, the President is required to appoint at least one minister from each of the 36 states. However, eleven states, namely Adamawa, Bayelsa, Gombe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Osun, Yobe, Plateau, and Zamfara, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, are yet to have their ministerial nominees announced.
Amidst the ongoing screening process, President Bola Tinubu is expected to submit a supplementary ministerial list to the Senate in the near future. The additional nominations are anticipated to complete the cabinet formation.
