Senate Confirms Buhari’s Ministers-Designate, Adjourns for Sallah

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of ministerial nominees sent to it last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ministers-designate were: Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State; Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State; Ekumankama Joseph Nkama- Ebonyi State, and Goodluck Nana Opiah – Imo State.

Others were Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State; Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State; and Odum Odi – Rivers State.

They replaced the ministers who resigned their appointments in the wake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election recently.

Three of the nominees were former legislators and were given the privilege to take a bow and go as a mark of honour.

Those who enjoyed such privilege were the former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Goodluck Nana Opiah; a nominee from Kano and the former Senior Special Assistance to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Reps), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakubu and a nominee from Ondo state, Ademola Adewole Adegoroye who said appearing before the Senate for confirmation as minister had been his life time ambition.

Opiah who is also the current Commissioner for Petroleum Resources in Imo state, said as a former legislator, he promised to be a worthy ambassador of the legislature and would enhance the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Ikechukwu from Abia State advised the federal government to ensure that modular refineries are cited in oil producing communities, adding that this would address issue of unemployment by creating jobs, reduce fuel scarcity, among others.

Ikechukwu whose nomination was endorsed by all the three Senators from Abia State was also described as a patriotic Nigerian who employed several youths in his private company.

On his part, Umana was described by senators from his state as a technocrat per excellent who would use his experiences to make impacts for the development of the country.

Umana while responding to question on how to stop relying too much on forex, recommended that the government should create enabling environment for massive production of goods and services by the private sector.

The youngest of all the nominees is Joseph Ekumankana Nkama from Ebonyi state, a 46-year-old lawyer.

He encouraged youths in the country to venture into untapped areas of investments, while calling on the federal government and stakeholders in the education sector to urgently address the ongoing ASUU strike in the interest of the future of Nigerian youths.

Odum Udi from Rivers State was said to have served as local government chairman for five times in the state and his achievements were eulogies by various senators across the party line. He was later asked to take a bow and go.

In his remarks after the confirmation, Senate President Ahmad Lawan congratulated all the ministerial designates and urged them to make their impacts felt in their various ministries.

He said, “You are expected to work with our committees during oversights because we are working for success of the same government.

“The fact that you have less than one year to proof your worth, your impact in your respective ministries can be felt for life. So make sure you write your name not only in gold but in platinum.” Lawan said.

The Upper Chamber later adjourned plenary for Sallah break to resume on July 19. The Senate adjourned plenary for two weeks on Wednesday, after the nominees’ confirmation.