Written by Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Screening of ministerial nominees is expected to continue today in the Senate and will cover the remaining 17 nominees outstanding from last week as well as eight fresh names to be sent in by President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Already, PDP chapters from states that were left out of the first ministerial list have sent in their nominations to the presidency. The new nominees include Alhaji Adamu Janfala from Kaduna State, Mr. Jerry Agada from Benue State and Alhaji Hassan Haruna Hadejia from Jigawa State. Hajiya Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim, the nominee from Kebbi State who was dropped from the list at the last minute, is believed to have been renominated and may make it into the new list.

The new list is also expected to include two ANPP members.

Last week, seventeen out of the thirty four nominees sent by the presidency appeared before the Senate after they were cleared by security agencies while the remaining seventeen were yet to obtain security clearance. However, Daily Trust gathered that nine more names have been sent to Senate as cleared by the security agencies and are to appear for screening today.

Speaking to Daily Trust on telephone, Senate Deputy Majority leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) confir-med that the Senate has received additional names for screening. Senate President David Mark is expected to read out the names of the nominees expected to appear before the Senate beginning from today.

The screening is expected to end tomorrow to enable Senate confirm those quali-fied to join the cabinet of President Yar’Adua before embarking on a six weeks’ recess next week.

Among those screened so far are PDP national secretary Chief Ojo Maduekwe (Abia), Chief Aderemi Babalola, (Oyo State), outgoing Head of Service Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed (Bauchi), Ambassador Bagudu Hirse (Plateau), Hajia Halima Alao (Kwara) and Architect Gabriel Aduku (Kogi). Also screened last week were Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu (Ebonyi), Major General Godwin Abbe (Edo), Odein Ajumogobiah, (Rivers), Senator James Akpanudo-edehe (Akwa-Ibom) and Senator Akinlabi Olasun-kanmi (Osun).