BY – Blessing Jonathan
The Senate, on Monday, finally approved and announced the appointed Ministers to work with President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nearly three months into his administration.
Among the forty-eight nominees presented to the National Assembly for screening by the President, forty-five were appointed, while the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir, El Rufai, Senator Abubakar Danlandi from Taraba State and former Nexim Bank Managing Director, Stella Okotete from Delta State were missing.
According to report, the withdrawn nominees didn’t pass the security checks and are currently being investigated.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, announced that the Red Chamber has confirmed forty-five names, while three others were still undergoing further legislative actions.
“Forty-eight names were, sent comprising both males and females. Forty-five were confirmed; the three others are awaiting further legislative actions, which will be hinged on other arms of government, having given us all the necessary impetus to do the final screening.
“But today, out of the forty-eight names sent, forty-five have been confirmed and approved as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This will be communicated to the President alongside the three other names which are still awaiting further legislative actions,” Adaramodu’s statement reads.
From the National Assembly, the screened and confirmed names are:
- Abubakar Kyari fron Borno State
- Abubakar Momoh from Edo State
- Nyesom Wike from Rivers State
- Prof. Joseph Utsev from Benue State
- John Eno from Cross River State
- Bello Mohammed from Sokoto State
- Mohammed Badaru Abubakar from Jigawa State
- Yusuf Maitama Tuggar from Bauchi State
- Uju Ken Ohaneye from Anambra State
- Olubunmi Tunji Ojo from Ondo State
- Nkeiruka Onyejeocha from Abia State
- Betta Edu from Cross River State
- Imaan Suleiman from Nasarawa State
- David Umahi from Ebonyi State
- Adebayo Olawale Edun from Ogun State
- Ahmed Musa Dangiwa from Katsina State
- Uche Nnaji from Enugu State
- Dele Alake from Ekiti State
- Waheed Adebayo Adelabu from Oyo State
- Muhammad Idris from Niger State
- Prof. Ali Pate from Bauchi State
- Dr Doris Uzoka from Imo State
- Lateef Fagbemi (San) from Kwara State
- Ekperikpe Ekpo from Akwa Ibom State
- Hannatu Musawa from Katsina State
- Ibrahim Geidam from Yobe State
- Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi from Niger State
- Heineken Lokpobiri from Bayelsa State
- Alkali Ahmed Sa’eed from Gombe State
- Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu from Kebbi State
- Atiku Bagudu from Kebbi State
- Bello Matawalle from Zamfara State
- Adegboyega Oyetola from Osun State
- Simon Bako Lalong from Plateau State
- Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo from Kano State
- Bosun Tijjani from Ogun State
- Dr Mariya Mahmoud from Kano State
- Dr Isiyaka Salako from Ogun State
- Dr Tunji Alausa from Lagos State
- Lola Ade John from Lagos State
- Prof. Tahir Mamman from Adamawa State
- Zephaniah Jissalo from F.C.T
- Uba Maigari Ahmadu from Taraba State
- Shuaibu Abubakar Audu from Kogi State
- Festus Keyamo (SAN) from Delta State
El-Rufai’s name being missing came as a shock to Nigerians and questions are being asked.
“Based on the findings, the nominees are currently undergoing security checks, having found some things against them,” a Senate from the House (anonymous) told journalists.
Another anonymous source from the Senate also said “We are observing them and we believe that there are some things that are incriminating against them. So, we have sent their names back to the executive for necessary checks.”
Speaking at the plenary, Sen. Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), alongside other minorities, filed a petition against El-Rufai on why he shouldn’t be appointed.
According to Karimi, the former Kaduna State governor had some unaddressed security issues to answer to while he was Governor.
Presenting a brown envelope, containing the petition against El-Rufai, to the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who was presiding over the screening exercise at the time. Karimi said;
“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 the FCT, as a minister, your record is there, and as two-time governor of Kaduna state, you did well.”
“But, I have a very strong petition against you that borders on security, unity and cohesiveness of the Nigerian nation.
“And I think that the petition has to be considered in this screening exercise.”
For Dalandi, a petition was also submitted against him, saying he had a court judgment restricting him from holding public office for 10 years, which Danladi denied such.
And finally for Okotete, several petitions were filed against her. One of which states that the former Nexim Bank MD, was alleged of non-disclosure of assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, however, quickly intervened and said, “This is not the place to consider petitions, we will sit with the petitions later and refer them to relevant authorities.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has announced the chairmen of Senate Committees. The announcement was made by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
They are:
Dr. Ahmad Lawan – Defence
Sen. Aminu Tambuwal – Housing
Sen. Osita Izunaso – Capital market
Sen. Solomon Adeola – Appropriations
Sen. Adams Oshiomhole – Interior
Sen. Cyril Fasuyi – Establishment
Seriake Dickson – Ecology/climate change
Sen. Godiya Akwashiki – Airforce
Sen. Aliyu Wadada – Public Accounts
Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari – Aviation
Sen. Sani Musa – Finance
Sen. Abiru Tokunbo – Banking
Sen. Isa Jubril – Customs
Sen. Jide Ipisagba- Petroleum downstream
Sen. Elisha Abbo – Culture & Tourism
Sen. Victor Umeh – Diaspora
Sen. Shehu Kaka – Special duties
Sen. Patrick Nwabueze – Works
Sen. Abdul-aziz Yari – Water resources
Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe – Power
Sen. Aliyu Wammako – Foreign & Local debts
Sen. Lawan Usman – Education
Sen. Akintunde Yunus – Environment
Sen. Ibrahim Bomai – FCT
Sen. Abubakar Sani – foreign affairs
Sen. Banigo Harry – Health
Sen. Adamu Aliero – Land Transport
Sen. Gbenga Daniel – Navy
Sen. Mustapha Saliu – Agriculture
Sen. Aliyu Bilbis – Communications
Sen. Barinada Mpigi – Niger Delta
Sen. Mohammed Monguno – Judiciary
Sen. Yemi Adaramodu – Youths and Sports
Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong – NDDC
Sen. Titus Zam – Rules & Business
Sen. Sunday Karimi – Senate Services
Sen. Ireti Kingigbe – Women Affairs
Sen. Orji Kalu – Privatization
Sen. Okechukwu Ezea – Ethics & public petitions
Sen. Shehu Buba – National security & intelligence
Sen. Garba Maidoki – Legislative matters