Ministerial nominees have begun the documentation process ahead of their screening and confirmation by the Senate, set to commence today (Tuesday).

This was announced on Monday evening by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado.

Lado said, “Nominees were already submitting relevant documents as the first in the series of procedures for the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees.

“The nominees are expected to be screened and confirmed by the Senate in compliance with Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).”

The Senate received President Bola Tinubu’s formal request for the screening and confirmation of seven ministerial nominees last Thursday.

The President’s request was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which was read at the start of plenary on Thursday.

The nominees listed in the President’s letter are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Idi Muktar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as Minister of State, Housing, and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State, Education.

In his letter, President Tinubu requested swift consideration of the nominees by the Senate.

Akpabio subsequently referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for prompt deliberation.

This development followed the President’s recent reshuffle of his cabinet.

In the process, five ministers were relieved of their positions. They were Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs); Lola Ade-John (Tourism); Prof Tahir Mamman (Education); Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (State, Housing and Urban Development) and Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth).

[Punch]