President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday submitted the second and final batch of his ministerial nominees to the Senate which reflected a blend of technocrats and politicians.
With the submission of 19 additional names on Wednesday, the president has a total of 47 nominees for his upcoming cabinet, having forwarded 28 names for the Senate for screening penultimate Thursday.
The list comprises nine former governors, former lawmakers, known card-carrying party members and technocrats. There are also nine women on the list.
Although portfolios were not attached to the names of nominees, the Senate has since commenced screening of the nominees. While some nominees got the bow-and-go privilege (mainly former lawmakers), others were barely quizzed.
Yet other nominees, especially those who are suspected to occupy sensitive ministries, were asked fairly introspective questions.
For context, the Nigerian constitution mandates that each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is entitled to a minister.
However, the president enjoys the prerogative to appoint six more ministers from the six-geopolitical zones of the country as has been the practice. Interestingly, Tinubu’s predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, had a cabinet of 44 members.
As for the non-attachment of portfolios to the nominees, chief of staff to the president, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, who presented the list to the Senate, explained that President Tinubu chose to maintain flexibility in assigning roles within the government.
He said the president wanted to retain the freedom to assess the nominees’ suitability for particular roles and, if necessary, adjust their assignments to ensure optimal functionality within the government.
Ministerial nominees:
Abubakar Momoh (Edo). The civil engineer, who became a politician, is a two-time member of the House of Representatives (Etsako federal constituency). He was a councillor, local government chairman, Edo State House of Assembly member.
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi). The 56-year-old politician and diplomat is the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany since 2017. He was previously a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing Gamawa; and he has run twice for governor of Bauchi State.
Mohammed Dangiwa (Katsina). Dangiwa is an architect and professor. A former CEO/MD of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), he contested the APC governorship primary election in May 2022. He is speculated to get the Housing portfolio.
Hanatu Musawa (Katsina). She is an internationally-trained lawyer/author-turned politician. Before her ministerial nomination she was special adviser to the president on culture and entertainment economy. She has served as the deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). She might retain the Culture portfolio.
Uche Nnaji (Enugu). He was the governorship candidate of the APC in the 2023 governorship election. He came to the limelight in 1999 when he won the senatorial ticket of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD).
Betta Edu (Cross River). She is the APC women leader and a former commissioner of health. She is renowned for her mobilisation ability throughout the campaigns. The 36-year-old politician is poised to get the women affairs ministry.
Doris Uzoka (Imo). She is a top banker who became finance commissioner in Imo state before her appointment as minister nominee. After graduating from University of Benin with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, she after a short practice went into the private financial sector, bagging in the process an MBA from the London School of Economics and the New York University Stern School of Business.
David Umahi (Ebonyi). He is the immediate past governor of his state and currently a senator. The 60-year-old politician has also served as PDP party chairman in the state and later as deputy governor. He might get the ministry of works.
Nyesom Wike (Rivers). He is one of the immediate past governors. The 55-year-old politician has served as local government chairman and minister of state in the past. He is likely to get the ministry of Niger Delta.
Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa). He is also an immediate past governor. The 60-year-old accountant-turned politician was an APC presidential aspirant in 2023.
Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna). Like others on the list, he just left office as governor. The 63-year-old quantity surveyor turned-politician served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007. He earlier served as director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
Ekperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom). He emerged as the APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in 2022. He represented Abak / Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency from 2007 to 2011.
Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia). The 53-year-old politician was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. She had earlier served as commissioner in her state. She might get the ministry of Transportation.
Olubunmi Ojo (Ondo). He is a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko North East/West Federal Constituency of Ondo State. The 41-year-old was also in the last House where he chaired the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) committee.
Prof Joseph Terlummu Utseve (Benue). He is the Rector at the Federal Polytechnic Wannune, Benue State. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering Federal from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he bagged both Masters and PhD Degrees in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering in 2007 and 2011 respectively. He was later appointed commissioner in the state. He was also executive director, Engineering, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Makurdi.
Ali Pate (Bauchi). He is a professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard University. He formerly served as the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population, and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF) at the World Bank Group. He is also the former Minister of State for Health. He might be given the ministry of health.
Uju Ohaneye (Anambra). She is a lawyer, businesswoman and philanthropist. The 50-year-old politician is the only female presidential aspirant to contest the APC presidential ticket in 2022. She might get the trade and investment portfolio.
Stella Okotete (Delta). At 38, she is one of the young persons on the list. Her robust academic qualifications saw to her appointment as the executive director, Business Development, Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank in 2017. The banker is also affiliated with the APC. She might get the ministry of finance.
Dele Alake (Ekiti). Although he gave a shot at the senatorial contest in his state, he is renowned as a journalist, activist and technocrat. He is a former commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State between1999–2007. He is in pole position for the ministry of information.
John Enoh (Cross River). He was in the Senate in 2015 representing the Central Senatorial District of the state. He was also a former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly and later House of Representatives. Aside from politics, Enoh owns numerous farms where he conducts arable and livestock production.
Abubakar Kyari (Borno). Until his nomination, he was acting national chairman of APC. He had also served as senator representing Borno North Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly from 2015 until his resignation in April 2022. He had also served several times as commissioner and chief staff to the state governor.
Olawale Edun (Ogun). He is a seasoned financial expert with extensive experience in the banking sector. Before his ministerial appointment, he was appointed the special adviser to president Bola Tinubu on Monetary Policies. He has a strong background in economics, public finance, international finance, merchant banking, and corporate finance at national and international levels. He served as commissioner for finance in Lagos State for two terms (1999-2007). He is a strong candidate for the Finance ministry.
Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba). He was a former acting governor and deputy governor of Taraba State and also a former Senator representing Taraba North Senatorial Zone. He might get interior ministry.
Wahid Adelabu (Oyo). A banker-turned politician, he is a former deputy governor, operations, of the Central Bank of Nigeria who later became the Oyo State gubernatorial candidate of the APC in 2019.
Lateef Fagbemi, SAN (Kwara). An accomplished Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), he is likely to become Nigeria’s 24th Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice. The 64-year-old has a legal career that has flourished with professional achievements for close to four decades. He became a SAN just after 10 years at the Bar. At 37 years, he was one of the youngest persons, at the time, to hold the rank.
Bello Muhammad Goronyo (Sokoto). The lawyer and politician has served several times as commissioner in the state. He also served as a member of Sokoto State House of Assembly and later as Zonal Secretary of APC, North West, in 2022. He was appointed into the APC campaign council as director, National Youth Mobilisation, North West, of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in 2023.
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (Nasarawa). She was the director-general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) from December 1, 2020 to May 27, 2021. She was however redeployed as the Hon Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons where she currently serves before her ministerial appointment.
Muhammed Idris (Niger). He is a renowned media entrepreneur, publisher, chairman and chief executive officer of the Blueprint Newspaper. The 57-year-old politician is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and philanthropist. He led the committee that developed and implemented the Training Guide for Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) across Nigeria from 2009 to 2011 and was Communications Consultant to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2017 to 2021.
Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo (Kano). He is a former deputy governor of Kano State and former governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He has also served as chairman of Gwarzo Local Government Council between 1997-1998 (NCPN) and 2004-2007 (ANPP) during which he served as the state ALGON chairman. He was also a caretaker chairman from 2003-2004 (ANPP).
Dr Bosun Tijani (Ogun). He is the CEO and co-founder of CcHub. Tijani holds a BSc. in Economics and a Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Jos. He subsequently obtained an MSc. in Information Systems and Management in 2007 from the Warwick Business School in England. In March 2023, Tijani completed a PhD programme in Innovation and Economic Development at the University of Leicester.
Dr Maryam Shetty (Borno). She is a social activist and qualified physiotherapist. She obtained her Master’s Degree from the University of East London, Stratford, where she majored in sports physiotherapy. She was also national leader of #WeBelieve, an APC support group.
Isiak Salako (Ogun). He is a medical practitioner and former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State. He is the coordinator, Ogun West Stakeholders Forum.
Tunji Alausa (Lagos). He is the executive chairman and chief medical officer, Dialysis Care Centre, in Homer Glen, Illinois, United States. The Epe-born Nephrologist studied Medicine at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and was Assistant Professor and Attending Physician Rush University Medical Centre, Cook County Hospital. He was awarded one of America’s best physicians in 2007 and 2012.
Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu (Kebbi). The medical doctor turned- politician is currently representing Yauri Emirate Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was newly reappointed chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services by the leadership of the 10th Assembly.
Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun). He is the immediate past governor of his state, and was before then the chief of staff to the state governor. The 68-year-old politician is likely to be made Transport minister.
Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi). He is also an immediate past governor of his state and was before that a senator. The 61-year-old politician is likely to be made minister of water resources.
Bello Matawalle (Zamfara). Like others on the list, the 54-year-old politician is the former governor of Zamfara State. He has also served as a commissioner and a federal lawmaker. He might get the solid minerals ministry.
Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe). He is a former governor of his state and a serving senator. He was also a former deputy governor. The 68-year-old accountant-turned politician might get the ministry of Agriculture.
Simon Lalong (Plateau). The 60-year-old lawyer has been a politician for decades, having served as Speaker of the House of Assembly in the state and later became the immediate governor of Plateau State. He is likely to be made minister of special duties.
Lola Ade John (Kogi). She is a seasoned Information and Technology expert and a leader in designing, integrating, deploying, and managing core systems for global banking institutions.
Shuaibu Abubakar Audu (Kogi). He is a politician and former governorship aspirant. He is expected to get the ministry of youth and sports.
Prof Tahir Mamman (Adamawa). He is known more as an academic and legal expert than a politician, having served as director general of the Nigeria Law School. However, he was a governorship aspirant in his state. The 69-year-old is likely to get the justice ministry.
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger). He was senator representing Niger North and served as deputy chief whip in the 9th Senate. He might get the FCT minister portfolio.
Senator Alkali Ahmed Saidu (Gombe). The 54-year-old politician had served as senator of Gombe North. He is likely to be made the minister of Defence.
Senator Heineken Lokpobori (Bayelsa). The 56-year-old politician had served as a minister and a senator. He had also served as speaker of the State Assembly. He is likely to get the Niger Delta ministry.
Uba Maigari Ahmadu (Taraba). He is the former governor of Taraba State and chairman of campaign committee for the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state in the 2023 general election. He is likely to get the ministry of Labour.
Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo (FCT). He is the first Abuja native to be nominated for a ministerial position. He is also a former member of the House of Representatives and former chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
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