Senate Skips El-Rufai, Two Others Over Security Reasons, Approves 45 Minister Designates

The Nigerian Senate on Monday confirmed 45 of the 48 ministerial nominees leaving out the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai Stella Okotete (Delta State), and Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State) for security reasons.

The Senate had a long session on Monday ensuring that all the ministerial nominees are screened and confirmed.

The 45 of the nominees were put on a voice votes by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

Recall last Monday, July 31, 2023, the Senate screened former governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike; Abubakar Kyari of Borno State; Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia State); Bello Muhammad (Sokoto State); Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State); and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa State).

Others are 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).

The Senate on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 screened ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Wale Edun, Uche Nnaji, Stella Okotete, Adebayo Adelabu, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Hannatu Musawa, and Musa Dangiwa.

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While Dele Alake, Lateef Fagbemi and Muhammad Idris, Ali Pate, and Doris Uzoka were screened the following day.

Also, the President forwarded 19 additional nominees to the Senate last Wednesday and two days later, the President withdrew the nomination of Maryam Shetty of Kano State from the list, replacing her with Festus Keyamo and Mariya Mahmoud.

On Friday, the Senate screened Zephaniah Jisalo, Shuaibu Audu, Yusuf Sununu, Bello Matawalle, Alkali Saidu, Ahmed Gwarzo, Atiku Bagudu, Simon Lalong, Ibrahim Gaidam, Aliu Abdullahi, Gboyega Oyetola, Heineken Lokpobiri and Tunji Alausa.

The screening continued at Senate on Saturday with Lola Ade-John, Bosun Tijani, Isiak Salako, Tahir Mamman, and Maigari Ahmadu.

The exercise concluded today with the screening of Mahmoud and then Keyamo.