Ministers List: Senate stops El-Rufai, Wike, Okotete, Danladi and 37 others

Security Reports Awaited for Confirmation of Wike, Keyamo, Alake, Tunji-Ojo, Pate, Fagbemi, Edu, and 38 Others

After a seven-day screening process, the Nigerian Senate has confirmed 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees presented by President Bola Tinubu.

Three nominees were denied confirmation due to pending security checks and petitions against their nominations. The nominees denied confirmation include the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai; former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Senator Abubakar Danladi; and Stella Okotete from Delta State.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that the Senate did not clear these nominees because of pending security reports that needed to be resolved.

However, the Senate confirmed the following nominees: Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State; Dave Umahi, Deputy Majority Senate Leader and former Governor of Ebonyi State; Festus Keyamo SAN, former Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Simon Bako Lalong; and Mr. Dele Alake.

Other nominees who received confirmation include Abubakar Momoh; Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa; Mr. Hannatu Musawa; Chief Uche Nnaji; Dr. Betta Edu; Dr. Dorris Aniche Uzoka; Alhaji Badaru Abubakar; Ekperipe Ekpo; and Nkiru Onyejeocha.

The Senate has also cleared Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Muhammad Idris, Olawale Edun, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu, Mrs. Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, Professor Ali Pate, Professor Joseph Utsev, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and Senator John Enoh.

The remaining confirmed nominees are Lola Ade-John, Bosun Tijani, Dr. Isiaka Salako, Professor Tahir Mamman, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Mairiga, Adegboyega Oyetola, Ibrahim Geidam, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Senator Alkali Ahmed Said, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Bello Matawalle, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Honourable Zephaniah Jisalo, and Tunji Alausa.

With these confirmations, the North-West and South-West regions will have nine ministers each, the North-Central region will have eight, the South-South and North-East regions will have seven each, and the South-East region will have five.

The confirmation hearing for Malam Nasir el-Rufai was accompanied by a petition presented by Senator Sunday Karimi. The petition focused on the issue of insecurity in Southern Kaduna during el-Rufai's tenure as governor. However, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, refused to accept the petition, stating that the time for considering petitions will come later.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that out of the 48 nominees, 45 were confirmed by the Senate and their names will be forwarded to the President for further action.

Prior to the confirmation, the Senate expressed support for Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, a nominee from Ondo State and a current member of the National Assembly. There were allegations last week that he had forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. Some senators dismissed these allegations, stating that they were mere political intrigues.