President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has presented a second batch of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation. The announcement was made by the President of the Senate, Senator Godwill Akpabio.
The new ministerial list comprises 19 names, including former governors Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe).
Earlier on Wednesday, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to Tinubu, Femi Gbajiabiamila, submitted the list to the Senate. This list completes the allocation of ministerial slots for the remaining eleven states.
To accommodate Gbajiabiamila’s entry into the chamber, the Senate invoked Order 12(i), allowing him to present the list at 3.15 pm.
The 19 names in the second batch of ministerial nominees are: Ahmed Tijjani, Bosun Tijjani, Dr. Maryam Shetti, Ishak Salako, Tunji Alausa, Tanko Sununu, Adegboyega Oyetola, Atiku Bagudu, Bello Matawalle, Ibrahim Geidam, Simon Bako Lalong, Lola Adejo, and Shuaibu Abubakar.
The remaining names are Tahir Mamman, Aliyu Sabi, Alkali Ahmed, Heineken Lokpobiri, Uba Maigari, and Zephaniah Jissalo.
Previously, last week, Gbajabiamila submitted a list of 28 names, but the Constitution mandates that each state must have a ministerial representative.
Among the nominees from the previous list were former governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa).
Other names included former Lagos Commissioner of Finance, Wale Edun, and Tinubu’s current Special Adviser on Communications and Special Duties, Dele Alake.
The list also featured Abubakar Momoh, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama, Arch Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, Chief Uche Nnaji, and Dr. Betta Edu, among others.