Senate Confirms 38 Ministers
Obiora Ani, Abuja.
Thirty
eight ministerial nominees have been confirmed by the Nigerian
Senate after they were screened by the legislators. Fourteen of
the confirmed candidates are former ministers while 24 are on
new appointments.
After endorsing them to join in steering the ship of governance,
as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Senate
urged acting President Goodluck Jonathan not to hesitate to drop
any of them who does not perform creditably in upcoming cabinet.
Doctrine of necessity
The screening exercise, which began on Monday, was concluded on
Wednesday and the successful ministers are to be sworn-in next
Tuesday. Senate President David Mark said after the confirmation
procedure that, ’’the House has adopted the doctrine of
necessity by postponing its Easter holiday by one week, to
enable members carry out a thorough exercise.’’
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator
Ayogu Eze, said in spite of the shortness of time for the
screening, the Senate did a ‘thorough job’.
Voice of Nigeria correspondent, Obiora Ani reports that, there
are indications that Acting President Jonathan will assign
portfolios to the new ministers prior to their taking oath of
office.
Taraba, Ebonyi excluded
Taraba and Ebonyi states did not present ministerial nominees
for screening.
On the reason for the non-appearance of Alhaji Umar Aliyu,
originally listed as a nominee from Taraba and the absence of a
nominee from Ebonyi, Ayogu said it was the sole prerogative of
the Executive to submit list of nominees to the Senate for
screening.
’’ I do not know what happened but we dealt with the list of
nominees that was sent to us. I am sure that when we resume from
recess, the states concerned would have reconciled whatever
differences there are,’’ he said.
The Ministerial List:
1. Mrs. Fedelia Njeze (Enugu)
2. Prof. Dora Akunyili, (Anambra)
3. Chief Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, (Ondo)
4. Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, (Kano)
5. Dr. Aliyu Hong, (Adamawa)
6. Prof. Mohammed Abubakar, (Kebbi)
7. Alhaji Adamu Waziri, (Yobe)
8. Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, (Gombe)
9. Mr. Awodele Alao, (Ogun)
10.Yusuf Suleiman, (Sokoto)
11. Prof. Ruqaiya Rufai, (Jigawa)
12. Prof. Sheik Abddalla, (Niger)
13. Arc. Musa Sada, (Katsina)
14. Hon. Samuel Odeh, (Benue)
15. Mr. Olusegun Aganga, (Lagos)
16. Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, (Osun)
17. Hon. Isa Bio, (Kwara)
18. Elder Godsday Orubebe, (Delta)
19. Arc. Nuhu Way, (Kaduna)
20. Mr. Henry Ajumogobia, SAN, (Rivers)
21. Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, (Bayelsa)
22. Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, (Edo)
23. Mr. John Odeh, (Cross River)
24. Mr. Aderemi Babalola, (Oyo)
25. Mr. Humphrey Abbah, (Kogi)
26. Mr. Chukwuemeka Wogu, (Abia)
27. Mrs. Josephine Anenih, (Anambra)
28. Mr. Labaran Maku, (Nasarawa)
29. Alhaji Suleiman Bello, (Zamfara)
30. Alhaji Murtala Yar’Adua, (Katsina)
31. Sen. Sanusi Dagash, (Borno)
32. Sen. Bala Mohammed, (Bauchi)
33. Hon. Nduese Essien, (Akwa Ibom)
34. Miss Josephine Tapgun, (Plateau)
35. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, (Kogi)
36. Navy Capt. Earnest Olubolade (rtd), (Ekiti)
37. Sen. Jibril Martins Kuye, (Ogun) and
38. Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, (Imo)
With additional report from NAN/Yinka
