JUST IN: Ministerial Screening for Bianca Ojukwu, Others Postponed

The anticipated screening of seven newly nominated ministers has been postponed by the Presidency to allow nominees additional time for finalizing necessary documentation and pre-screening requirements. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the exercise will now take place on Wednesday at noon on the Senate floor.

This change was confirmed in a statement issued Tuesday by Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters. The delay impacts the confirmation process for nominees appointed following recent shifts within President Tinubu’s cabinet.

Last week, the President undertook a significant reshuffle, dismissing five ministers, reassigning 10 others, and introducing seven new nominees for Senate approval. This reshuffle has attracted widespread attention due to the selection of prominent figures for strategic roles, among them Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. Yilwatda’s appointment officially ends the tenure of suspended former Minister Betta Edu.

Other nominees include Maigari Dingyadi for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole for the Ministry of Industry, Idi Maiha for the newly formed Ministry of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.