Ministerial Nominees: Senate Spokesman Gives Update On El-Rufai, Two Others Confirmation

The spokesperson of the 10th Senate, Yemi Adaramodu on Tuesday gave an update on the confirmation of former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and other ministerial nominees.

According to Adaramodu, the red chamber may re-invite the three ministerial nominees yet to be confirmed for re-screening.

Adaramodu representing Ekiti South Senatorial District revealed this during an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday.

The lawmaker when asked whether the Senate is still going to confirm those yet to be confirmed said, “The question raised about them is an ongoing issue. So, once the Senate is satisfied, definitely, if we need to invite them to the chamber for the re-confirmation and re-screening, then we’ll do that.”

Naija News had earlier reported that the Senate did not confirm El-Rufai, Senator Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State and ex-Nexim Bank Managing Director, Stella Okotete (Delta State) on Monday.

The Senate led by Godswill Akpabio on Monday approved and confirmed 45 ministerial nominees after a voice vote.

However, the red chamber withheld the ministerial confirmation of El-Rufai and two others pending “security clearance”.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had said, “Just to mention that for the avoidance of doubt, the Senate has so far approved and confirmed the nomination of 45 ministers out of the total 48 ministerial nominees sent to us by the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The others are still awaiting security clearance.”

Clarifying the issue Adaramodu said, “If security is not satisfied, Senate cannot be satisfied. It depends on what security agencies and the person that nominates them say.”