In a letter to the Senate, President Bola Tinubu announced the replacement of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former ministerial nominee from Kaduna State, with Balarabe Abbas Lawal. Lawal is a former youth development commissioner in Kaduna State and holds a PhD in political science from the University of Jos. El-Rufai’s nomination had sparked controversy among some senators who questioned his record on security and human rights issues.
Recall that in August, El-Rufai’s name was missing from the list of the ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate.
The Senate after the screening exercise which took place about them a week approved and confirmed a total of 45 out of the 48 nominees sent by President Bola Tinubu.
A couple of petitions including those sent by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) were presented against the former governor during the screening.
The lawmaker representing Kogi West, during the ministerial screening, moved against the former Kaduna State governor.
Karimi, after El-Rufai’s presentations, stood up and told the chamber that he had a petition written against the former governor over the issue of insecurity in Southern Kaduna.
President Tinubu also nominated Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State as ministers. The Senate had previously confirmed 45 out of 48 nominees sent by the president in July, but rejected three, including Stella Okotete from Delta State and Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read the president’s letter at the plenary on Tuesday, but did not announce a date for screening and confirming the new nominees. The Senate adjourned its session until Wednesday.
