Nigeria Senators yesterday, confirmed seven ministerial nominees recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
The confirmed nominees are:
Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Bianca Odinaka ojukwu, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Jumoke Oduwole and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The nominees were confirmed after a hearing was held on the floor of the senate on Wednesday.
A mild drama played out during the screening of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu at the senate, on yesterday Wednesday.
Yesterday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the request on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Thursday.
As against the past when portfolios of the nominees were not disclosed to lawmakers, that was the first time since 1999 when the Nigerian president would reveal the specific roles assigned to the nominees.
The nominees listed on the order paper of the Senate for screening on Wednesday were Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Ph.D.
When it was the turn of Ojukwu, she read her credentials and listed her achievements before Akpabio opened the floor for questions.
Senator Osita Ngwu, lawmaker representing Enugu West District in the 10th National Assembly, had indicated interest to speak.
He started by praising the beauty of the nominee, attracting reactions from his colleagues.
“Mr President, the beautiful nominee standing before us today is…,” Ngwu said before Akpabio interrupted him by saying, “Restrict yourself to the resume. Forget this word beautiful. She didn’t put in her CV that she is beautiful.”
Akpabio’s comment elicited laughter among the senators.
Speaking during the screening, widow of former Biafra warlord Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, said due to the dilapidated state of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, she opted staying in a hotel for one year.
“I would like to say that my past records speak for me. As an ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, I spent an entire year in one hotel room because when I got to Spain, the mission building was in such an appalling condition.”
“The embassy was located very close to the upscale estate of Galagao, where people would pass by on their way to various events and matches. It was disheartening that this decadent structure represented Nigeria in such a prestigious area. The Nigerian embassy in Madrid that you see today is the product of my time in that country.”
Minister of Labour
There’ll be harmony with labour unions when I assume office – Ministerial nominee
Many workers associations have either gone on strike or threatened to do so for diverse reasons since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
The minister-designate of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, says his ministry would ensure peaceful coexistence with labour unions and motivate Nigerian workers to deliver effective services.
He made the promise on Wednesday while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly shortly after he was screened by senators.
Mr Dingyadi who served as the Minister of Police Affairs under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was not questioned during the screening. He was directed to “take a bow and go” because he was a former minister. This practice is in line with the tradition of the Senate.
When the minister-designate stepped out of the chamber, he told journalists that when he is sworn in, he will listen to the agitations of Nigerian workers and provide possible solutions.
Many workers associations have either gone on strike or threatened to do so for diverse reasons since President Bola Tinubu assumed office. These include the doctors’ union, NMA; lecturers’ union, ASUU, and the non-academic staff union of universities, NASU and SSANU, who are currently on strike.
Apart from the individual workers’ unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which are the umbrella bodies of the labour unions, have also threatened to go on strike several times and have embarked on warning strikes.
The labour ministry serves as the main negotiator with the workers’s unions during periods of dispute.
Mr Dingyadi said he is aware of the issues surrounding his ministry and promised that he would find a possible solution to them.
“There will be harmony, peaceful coexistence, very good motivation for workers and we will take them along to ensure that we listen and we do the needful.
“I am aware of the various issues that are still pending. We will look at them, I will listen to the officials of the ministry and we will forge a way forward, “ he added.
He expressed appreciation to the senators for not questioning him when he appeared before the Senate for screening.
“Let me say that I am very honoured by this hallowed chamber for asking me to take a bow and go. I think this is another encouragement for me to do more and I want to assure this country that we will do our best to move the nation forward.”
