*Commends President for assigning portfolios to nominees
By Andover Tyowase
Senate has confirmed all seven nominees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Recall that President Tinubu, last week, sacked some of his ministers and picked seven new ones and consequently forwarded their names to the Senate for confirmation.
After conducting the confirmation hearing, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio who presided over the confirmation hearing and endorsement charged the nominees to be good ambassadors and work in the overall interest of Nigeria.
Those who appeared before the upper legislative chamber for the confirmation exercise included Dr Nentawe Yileatda (Plateau State), Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (Sokoto) and Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Anambra).
Others were Honourable Yusuf Abdullahi (Kano), Idi Muktar Maiha (Adamawa), Dr Jumoke (Oduwole) and Suwaiba Said Ahmad.
Although the exercise was seamless, the Senate President remarked that with the attachment of portfolio to the nominees which was first of its kind, it paved the way for the less-vigorous exercise and offered the lawmakers the opportunity to ask specific questions where necessary.
In a bow-and-go exercise, the nominees were only asked to introduce themselves and tell the Senate what they would do when confirmed .
While most of them were able to give an idea of what they will introduce in the administration, some said they will need to understand the handing over notes.
Earlier, the nominee from Plateau state designated to the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Nentawe Yileatda said the federal government will embark on deliberate policies in addressing humanitarian concerns and taking Nigerians out of poverty.
The Sokoto state nominee Maigari designated for Labour Ministry said “I have what it takes to negotiate and I am ready to take everyone along in the service of this country .
“I will work with labour and ensure that Nigeria wins at the end of the day.
Iam with the highest determination , motivation for workers and everyone will be carried along”.
For Bianca Ojukwu, designated for ministry of Foreign Affairs (state ) said ,”as an Ambassador to Spain I met the embassy in a deplorable state .
“I gave it a facelift and deserving of Nigeria.
“The various embassies need more funding because most of them are in bad shape ”
In his remark, Senator Enninaya Abaribe commended the President for appointing an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) person into his cabinet .
According to him the appointment is an indication that a Government of National Unity was possible .
