The Senate continued the screening of ministerial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu. Last week, the Senate received a list of twenty-eight nominees, and fourteen were screened on Monday.
The remaining fourteen nominees, including David Umahi, Adebayo Olawale Edun, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and others, were scheduled for screening today.
During the screening, David Umahi, Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo Akwa, and Barr Hannatu Musawa took a bow and were excused.
Olawale Edun, a nominee from Ogun State, emphasized the need for a clear vision and commitment to steer Nigeria towards prosperity. He welcomed the fuel subsidy removal and unification of foreign exchange, despite acknowledging the initial challenges they brought.
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Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, proposed stringent measures in the electricity sector, including addressing issues with metering, transmission infrastructure, and distribution. He emphasized the need for a stable and reliable electricity supply to foster industrialization and economic growth.
A petition accusing El-Rufai of stirring insecurity and creating disunity in Kaduna State was raised, but the Senate blocked its consideration during the screening process. Several Senators praised El-Rufai’s performance in previous offices and urged him to take a bow.
The nominee from Oyo State, Adekola Adebayo Adelabu, emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He advocated for the insulation of CBN governor appointments from the government to ensure unbiased decisions.
The Senate made progress in screening the ministerial nominees and discussed various critical issues facing the country during the confirmation process.