Tinubu nominates Balarabe to replace el-Rufai

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, October 3, named Balarabe Abbas Lawal from Kaduna State as minister-nominee to replace former governor Nasir el-Rufai, who was earlier rejected by the Senate in August.

Balarabe was one of the 48 persons nominated by President Tinubu as ministers when his name came up in the first batch of 28 nominees forwarded to the National Assembly for approval on July 27.

Tinubu made this known yesterday in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Tinubu asked the Senate to confirm Balarabe and two other ministerial nominees, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande to make up his earlier 48 cabinet list.

Akpabio read Tinubu’s request thus: “In compliance with the provisions of section 147, sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, I am pleased to forward to the Senate three nominees for confirmation of Senate.

“Dr Jamila Biu Ibrahim, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and Ayodele Olawale for confirmation as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While I hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept the Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the usual assurances of my highest regards.”

Akpabio, after reading the letter, stated that the request would be referred to the Committee of the Whole for an expeditious action at the next legislative date.

BEB