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Wike, El-Rufai, Umahi, Seven Women Make Tinubu’s Ministerial List
The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and three other former governors made the list of ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu for Senate confirmation, yesterday.
The three other former governors are Nasir El-Rufai, Muhammed Abubakar Badar and David Umahi of Kaduna, Jigawa and Ebonyi States, respectively,
The list also has eight lawmakers, including serving ones, former ministers, ambassadors and technocrats.
The President beat the July 29 deadline for submission of the ministerial list as stipulated by the constitution as amended by the ninth Assembly.
Tinubu, according to the 1999 Constitution, as amended by the Ninth Senate, has barely two days left out of the 60 days deadline stipulated for the President to unveil his cabinet members.
Section 42 of the constitution states that “(a) the nomination of any person to the office of a Minister for confirmation by the Senate shall be done within sixty days after the date the President has taken the oath of office;
“(b) not less than ten per cent of persons appointed as Ministers shall be women:
“Provided that the President may appoint a Minister at any other time during his tenure and such appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”
The piece of legislation further prescribes that the President shall appoint at least a minister from each of the 36 states of the federation.
The Tide reports that contrary to the 37 names being circulated in the social media and ones published by some media organisations (not The Tide), yesterday, only 28 names made the first list of the ministerial nominees.
The authentic list read at the Senate plenary yesterday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also include a renown economist, Olawale Edun; a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu; a legal luminary, Latef Fagbemi, SAN; Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi, Senator John Eno.
Other prominent names who made the list include the President’s Special Adviser on Media, Strategy and Special Duties, Dele Alake; former Minister of Health under Goodluck Jonathan who recently rejected an international job, Prof. Ali Pate and Professor Joseph Utsev.
Also on the list is the women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Betta Edu and five other women which include Hon. Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Stella Okotette, Dorris Aniche Uzoka and Mrs Iman Suleiman Ibrahim.
Other nominees include the National Deputy Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abubakar Kyari; Rt. Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Chief Uche Nnaji and Abubakar Momoh.
The rest are Ambassador Yusuf Miatama Tukur, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, Mr. Bello Muhammad G. and Mr. Muhammad Idris.
The letter which contained the ministerial list was personally handed over to the Senate President by the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, during the Senate plenary at exactly 1.20pm.
Gbajabiamila’s entry into the Senate plenary session followed a point of order and motion by the Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti APC), that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives be allowed to join the plenary to deliver an important message from President Tinubu. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Mwadkwon Davou (Plateau North, PDP)
The list did not, however, contain the portfolios of the nominees.
The Tide reports that it was the first time the COS to a President would personally deliver a ministerial list to the Chambers and during plenary session.
President Tinubu’s letter read in part, “In compliance to the provision of Section 147 sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I am pleased to forward to Senate for confirmation the underlisted 28 ministerial nominees.
“While hoping that the additional nominations will be sent in due course, I hope that the aforementioned nominees will receive the expeditious consideration and confirmation of the Senate.
“Please accept Distinguished Senate President and Senators the assurance of my highest regard.”
Akpabio, after reading out the letter from the President to the Senators, referred the list to the Committee of the Whole House for appropriate legislative action.
There have been agitations over the ministerial list particularly due to Tinubu’s long silence over the list.
A number of Nigerians have expressed concern and worry over the delayed formation of the President’s cabinet particularly because Tinubu had, after his election, promised Nigerians that he would hit the ground running.
He had also promised credible governance with competent people occupying various positions across the sphere of execution.
In a statement on March 16, Tinubu said he would set up a “government of national competence.
“There has been talk of a government of national unity. My aim is higher than that. I seek a government of national competence. In selecting my government, I shall not be weighed down by considerations extraneous to ability and performance.”
The delay in announcing the cabinet ministers had also led to the emergence of several lists of ministers, which the government itself disowned.
Briefing the Press after plenary, the Senate’s Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), disclosed that the Senate would convene screening on Monday in an extraordinary session.
Senator Adaramola said that the Senate was poised to have a thorough screening session to ensure that only nominees fit for the offices are confirmed.
Responding to questions on what will become of nominees with pending allegations of corruption, he stressed that only those qualified in character, experience, expertise and capacity will scale through the Senate screening and be confirmed.
The Senate spokesperson explained that the Senate shifted its annual break which usually commence in July to ensure they give Nigerians the new ministers, adding that the Senate was ready to sit for as many days as it takes to thoroughly screen the nominees .
He added that the usual “bow and go” will only be obtainable where all Senators accept a nominee as fit and competent.
By: Boye Salau & Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
