If the Clerk of the Senate was able to prepare and transmit the list of cleared ministerial nominees before the end of Tuesday, there are strong indications that they may be inaugurated today (Wednesday), which is the 10th Wednesday since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term administration on May 29, 2019. Since inauguration, today will be the 10th Wednesday gone without Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting where critical contract approvals are made. The indication of the development means that since May till date, the Federal Government is yet to approve any contract as ministerial regulation provides that a Permanent Secretary cannot make any approval in excess of N5m.
Business Hilights recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 23 released the list of 43 nominees to senate for screening and confirmation as ministers.
Accordingly, the Senate screening took off immediately on July 24 and ended yesterday after suspending their earlier planned recess.
The screening which lasted for five days nonstop came to an end on July 30.
Key observations pointed out during the screening period included the need to attach possible portfolios to every nominee so as to guide the Senate in the screening process especially on tailored questions and industry expertise test.
Those confirmed are: Dr Uchechukwu Ogah (Abia), Muhammad Bello (Adamawa), Sen. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Dr Chris Ngige (Anambra), Sharon Ikeazu (Anambra), Adamu Adamu (Bauchi), Amb. Mariam Katagum (Bauchi), Timipre Silva (Bayelsa), Sen. George Akume (Benue), Mustapha Baba-Shehuri (Borno), Goddy Jedi-Agba (Cross River).
Others are Festus Keyamo (Delta), Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Dr Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Clement Agba (Edo), Richard Adebayo (Ekiti), Geofery Oyeanma (Enugu), Dr Ali Isa-Pantami (Gombe), Emeka Nwajuba (Imo), Sulaiman Adamu (Jigawa), Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), Dr Mohammed Mahmoud (Kaduna), Sabo Nanono (Kano), Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Kano).
Also confirmed are Hadi Sirika (Katsina), Abubakar Malami (Kebbi), Ramatu Tijani (Kogi), Lai Mohammed (Kwara), Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Sen. Adeleke Mamora (Lagos), Mohammed Abdullahi (Nasarawa), Amb. Zubairu Dada (Niger), Olamilekan Adegbiti (Ogun), Sen. Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Sunday Dare (Oyo).
Others are Pauline Tallen (Plateau), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Mohammed Dingwadi (Sokoto), Saleh Mamman (Taraba), Abubakar Aliyu (Yobe) and Sadiya Faruk (Zamfara).
