Nigeria’s Senate has confirmed the appointment of all seven ministerial nominees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted last week for accelerated consideration.
After postponing the exercise from Tuesday, the Upper Chamber on Wednesday undertook the screening exercise.
Screening kicked off with Nentawe Yilwatda, the nominee appointed to replace Betta Edu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Following which other nominees took the stand, including:
- Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu nominated as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs
- Maigari Dingyadi nominated as the Minister of Labour and Employment
- Jumoke Oduwole nominated as the Minister of Industry
- Idi Maiha as Minister for the newly created Livestock Development Ministry
- Yusuf Ata as the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, and
- Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State Education.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio provoked laughter when he chided Senator Osita Ngwu for praising the beauty of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu during the ministerial screening.
When Akpabio opened the floor for questions, Ngwu, who currently serves as the Senator representing Enugu West District in the 10th National Assembly, started by applauding Bianca’s beauty to which he attracted a rebuke.
“Mr President, the beautiful nominee standing before us,” the lawmaker said.
“Restrict yourself to the resume. Forget this word beautiful,” Akpabio interjected jocularly. “She didn’t put in the CV that she is beautiful.”
Senators laughed at the exchange.
After Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia South District, followed up with Bianca’s competence and ability, and commended Tinubu for nominating the “mother” of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as a minister, the nominee was asked to take a bow.
As Miss Bianca Onoh, she had world a beauty pageant.
In 2011, then President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Bianca as Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs. She later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and later Ambassador to the Kingdom Of Spain. She is Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
The widow of former Biafra warlord Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is a multiple international pageant titleholder.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had last Wednesday sacked five ministers, re-assigned 10 and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.
Earlier the Senate, following a motion moved by the leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, suspended its rule to admit the Special Adviser to the President on Senate matters, Basheer Lado, to bring the nominees into the plenary.
