Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), has successfully transmitted the list of 45 confirmed ministerial nominees to the Presidency. Gumel shared this update during a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Following a recent Senate session, a total of 45 ministerial nominees were confirmed on Monday, with the confirmation of three others temporarily deferred, including that of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, deferred.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who explained that the delay in confirming El-Rufai was due to pending security clearance, said Sen. Abubakar Danladi and Stella Okete were the other nominees still awaiting clearance.

Gumel conveyed the completion of the nomination process, stating, “We transmitted the confirmed list yesterday (Monday) by about 11:30 p.m. to the Chief of Staff to the President. The list is now with the Executive, which means that the ministerial nominees were cleared by the Senate and confirmed.”

He expressed gratitude to the dedicated senators who demonstrated their commitment by postponing their recess to finalize the screening and confirmation procedures. Gumel praised the unanimous cooperation displayed in the Senate, emphasizing the commendable dedication shown by the lawmakers.

Gumel acknowledged the increase in the number of ministerial nominees from the standard 42 to 48, indicating that this adjustment was made to accommodate the diverse portfolios. He explained that the government may have chosen to separate or merge certain ministries to facilitate oversight and efficiency, as seen with the Ministry of Works and Housing.

The Senior Special Assistant also highlighted the diverse backgrounds of the nominees, encompassing private sector professionals, technocrats, politicians, governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, women, and youth representatives.

He emphasized that this comprehensive mix of individuals will contribute to realizing the “Renewed Hope” agenda as Nigerians eagerly anticipate the full activation of the government’s initiatives.