Tinubu replaces el-Rufai, as senate confirms three new ministerial nominees
Senate has confirmed three of the latest candidates nominated by President Bola Tinubu for appointment as Federal Ministers. They include; Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Kaduna), Mr. Ayodele Olawande (Ondo) and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Kwara).
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation of the ministers, Wednesday, after they were cleared through a voice vote by senators at the plenary.
The confirmation brings the total number of ministers serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration to 48.
President Tinubu had in a correspondence to the Senate on Tuesday requested the screening and confirmation of the three nominees.
The President’s letter was read by the Senate President, Senator Akpabio at the plenary.
The Senate president, Wednesday, passed the request for the confirmation of the Ministers to the Senate Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
The senators at the Committee of Whole screened and cleared the nominees.
Dr. Ibrahim and Mr Olawande will serve as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth while Mr. Lawal, who slumped during the earlier screening, is yet to be assigned a portfolio, but may serve as the Minister of Environment.
He is expected to replace Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State whose confirmation the Senate put on hold in August due to security reasons.
The confirmation of two other nominees, Stella Okotete (Delta) and Sani Danladi (Taraba) was also deferred.
President Tinubu had since August inaugurated 45 ministers earlier cleared by the Senate.
