Senate to screen new ministerial nominees, including El-Rufai’s replacement, today
The Nigerian Senate is set to screen three new ministerial candidates nominated by President Bola Tinubu as plenary resumes today.
The nominees to be screened are Balarabe Abbas Lawal from Kaduna State, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State, and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read a letter from President Tinubu requesting the confirmation of the additional ministerial nominees on Tuesday.
In August 2023, the Senate confirmed 45 ministerial nominees but rejected three, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Stella Okotete from Delta State, and Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State.
READ ALSO: Tinubu appoints three more to ministerial posts, pending Senate approval
A lawmaker had raised concern over a “serious petition” against El-Rufai during the screening ceremony.
Senator Sunday Karimi from Kogi West had drawn the attention of the lawmakers to the petitions against the former FCT minister.
“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.”
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