President Bola Tinubu has made a significant change in his ministerial nominees by replacing the former nominee from Kaduna State and former governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, with Abbas Lawal Balarabe, the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
This decision was officially communicated to the Senate and announced during plenary by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
President Tinubu has also formally requested the Senate to confirm the nominations of Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State and Mr. Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State as ministers.
It’s worth noting that the Senate had previously confirmed 45 out of the initial 48 ministerial nominees forwarded by President Tinubu in July.
Besides El-Rufai, the two other nominees who were not confirmed at that time were Ms. Stella Okotete from Delta State and Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State.
Subsequently, President Tinubu appointed Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim as the Minister of Youth and Mr. Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State, as announced by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale.
Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim is a young medical doctor with a background in sustainable development, while Mr. Ayodele Olawande is known for his expertise in community development and youth leadership within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abbas Lawal Balarabe, the new nominee for Kaduna State, brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously served as the SSG from 2019 to 2023, as well as holding various roles, including Special Assistant to the President in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister from 2003 to 2007. Notably, he chaired a 65-member transition committee that facilitated the current administration of Governor Uba Sani in Kaduna State.
