Updated: Buhari sends list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, one year after his swearing-in as President.

This is in line with Section 171 (1) (c) subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

In a letter addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki which he personally read on the floor during Thursday plenary, Buhari asked the legislative body to approve the list as soon as possible.

The letter, dated June 6, was received on June 9, 2016 from the Office of the Senate President.

However, in what appeared to be a departure from the past, where past presidents use ambassadorial nominations to compensate politicians, Buhari rather opted solely for career foreign service officers.

Expectations were high in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) when, in 2015, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, assured of over 6,000 appointments in the present administration.

The ambassadorial nominees include: Manaja Isah, Ngozi Ukaeje, Bello Husseini, Enoch Duchi, Garba Baba, Usman Aliyu, Umar Salisu, Momoh Omeiza, Kadiri Audu, Balogun Hakeem, Inusa Ahmed, Ibrahim Isah, Bankole Adeoye and Ibidapo-Obe Oluwasegun.

Others are: Obinna Agbugba, Salisu Umaru, Inyang Udo-Inyang, Okeke Nwunaku, Liman Munir, Ndem Ada, Mohammed Hassan, Martin Cobham, Janet Olisa, Itegboye Sunday, Olatunde Adesesan and Lilian Onoh.

Also on the list are: Ogundero Sakirat, Eric Bell-Gam, Attahiru Halliru, Rahmatu Dunama, Musa Mamman, Kabiru Bala, Adamu Shuaibu, D.A Agev, T.K Gongulong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C Nwachukwu and Q.I Worlu.

The list also has E.K Oguntuase, I.A Paragalda, L.A Gasharga, Olufemi Abikoye, Habu Ibrahim, Rabiu Akawu, Okeke Nwunaku, Janet Bisong and Sonaike Abibat.

The Senate is yet to decide on the date for the screening of the nominees.

 

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE