DSS Clears Ministerial Nominees Ahead of Senate Screening

The Senate is set to begin the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees tomorrow, following a green light from the Department of State Services (DSS), which completed background checks on the candidates. As part of the preparatory steps, nominees have rushed to the National Assembly (NASS) to submit their resumes in order to meet the screening requirements.

The office of Senator Basheer Lado, the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, was bustling today as nominees submitted their curriculum vitae, a necessary document ahead of the Senate’s review process. Among the first to fulfill this requirement were nominees for the Ministries of Education, Trade and Investment, and Livestock Development.

In an official statement on Monday, Senator Lado confirmed that the ministerial candidates had initiated the documentation process, which includes the submission of credentials and other essential documents. Lado emphasized that this preliminary step is the first in a series of procedures leading up to the Senate’s screening and confirmation process, scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

The screening will be conducted in accordance with Section 147 of Nigeria’s Constitution (1999, as amended), which mandates Senate confirmation of ministerial appointments.

President Tinubu had earlier addressed the Senate, requesting the prompt review and confirmation of seven new nominees. This letter, presented to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary last Thursday, urged swift Senate action to enable these candidates to assume their respective roles.

The nominees up for confirmation include:

Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction

Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment

Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Development

Idi Muktar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development

Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State, Housing

Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State, Education

Senate President Akpabio confirmed that the review process would be handled by the Committee of the Whole, underscoring the Senate’s commitment to a thorough and timely consideration of each nominee.