The Senate has received President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of two ministerial nominees.
The nominees include Stephen Ocheni (Kogi State) and Suleiman Hassan (Gombe State).
Buhari’s cabinet became short of two ministers after James Enojo Ocholi (Kogi) died in an accident in March 2016 and Amina Mohammed (Gombe) was appointed as UN deputy Secretary-General in December 2016.
Ocheni is to replace Ocholi while Hassan is to take the place of Mohammed.
In the letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki at Wednesday plenary, President Muhammadu Buhari said his request is in line with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He called for ‘expeditious consideration’ of the request.
The upper legislative chamber is yet to take any action on the matter.
The development comes less than 24 hours after the Senate suspended the confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) for two weeks, pending when President Muhammadu Buhari’s would respond to its rejection of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Lawmakers were peeved that despite Magu’s disqualification by the upper legislative chamber two weeks ago, he continues to act in that capacity.
They submitted that it is an insult on the institution of parliament that rather than respond to Magu’s rejection, President Muhammadu Buhari left him in acting capacity and forwarded 27 nominees for confirmation.
Senators therefore insisted that the President must sack Magu as anti-corruption czar.
