President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja forwarded the names of 12 ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Jonathan also sent for confirmation the names of the newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs to the upper legislative chamber, which was just resuming from the Christmas holidays.
The Senate President, David Mark, read out to the Senate the letters sent by the President for the confirmation of the ministers and the service chiefs.
The letter concerning the ministers reads in part: “In accordance with Section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I have the honour to forward ministerial nominees for consideration by the Senate”.
The nominees include Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Hajia Jamila Salik and Ambassador Aminu Wali (both Kano) and Mrs Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom).
Others are Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Dr T.W. Danagogo (Rivers), Asabe Ahmed (Niger) and Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun).
The rest are Lawrencia Mallam (Kaduna), General Aliu Gusau (Zamfara), Mr Boni Haruna (Adamawa) and Dr Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto).
For the service chiefs, the President’s letter said he was forwarding the names to the Senate in compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The service chiefs include Air Marshal Alex Badeh (Chief of Defence Staff), Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (Chief of Army Staff) and Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin (Chief of Naval Staff).
The name of Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu was also forwarded for confirmation as Chief of Air Staff.
It will be recalled that the new service chiefs were appointed on January 16 by the President.
Jonathan also expressed the hope that the Senate would treat the requests expeditiously.
This is the first time the President was forwarding the names of appointed service chiefs to the Senate for confirmation.
A Federal High Court had ruled that the appointment of service chiefs must be confirmed by the Senate.
This was as a result of a case initiated by Mr Festus Keyamo, a Lagos-based lawyer.
