The Senate is scheduled to begin screening of the seven new ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
The appointed ministers are Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State; Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State; Ekumankama Joseph Nkama – Ebonyi State and Goodluck Nanah Opiah – Imo State.
Others are Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State; Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State; and Odum Udi – Rivers State.
The ministers will be screened individually and it will be done in plenary.
The exercise has been included among the elements of the Agenda Document and the nominees, as reported in this document, are already present in the legislative complex.
Buhari had written to the Senate last Tuesday, nominating the seven ministers and seeking confirmation from lawmakers.
He said that the request for confirmation was made in accordance with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
He, however, did not declare his portfolios.
If approved by the Senate, ministerial candidates will replace those who recently resigned to run for other political office.
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Some of the ministers who resigned are Rotimi Amaechi, Godswill Akpabio, Ogbonnaya Onu and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who competed for the presidential primaries.
Others are Uche Ogar who contested and won the fractional primaries for governor of the state of Abia and Tayo Alasoadura who contested and lost the APC senatorial primaries.
They had resigned pursuant to the provisions of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, which states that “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party with the purpose of nominating candidates for any election.
Follow PREMIUM TIMES for live updates on the screening.