By Louis Achi
The Senate has confirmed three ministerial nominees, Jamila Ibrahim (Kwara State); Balarabe Lawal (Kaduna State); and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo State), in addition to the 45 approved by the Red Chamber in August.
This comes a day after President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Senate, seeking its confirmation of the nominees.
TheNewDiplomat had reported that Balarabe from Kaduna collapsed in the Senate chamber when he appeared before the senators for screening.
Balarabe, who was the second nominee to be screened after Dr. Jamila, collapsed more than 15 minutes into his screening exercise.
Standing on the podium, he collapsed when Kaduna South Senator, Sunday Marshall Katung, was speaking about Balarabe’s administrative experience in Kaduna.
After Balarabe had finished reading his profile before the senators, the Kaduna lawmaker, while endorsing Balarabe’s ministerial nomination, said all the three senators from the state have no objection to his nomination.
Senator Katung had not finished his remarks when the nominee collapsed, prompting the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to shout, “Give him water, give him water and sugar.”
Akpabio immediately ordered journalists and cameras out of the Senate chamber while the live streaming of the screening was also halted.
The Senate resumed the ministerial screening almost one hour after the incident and following Balarabe’s Stabilisation.
TheNewDilomat had earlier reported that information confirmed Balarabe was fasting before the Senate screening.
About two and a half hours after the exercise commenced around 1 pm on Wednesday, Senate President Godwill Akpabio put the nominations to a voice vote.
The senators voted in favour of the nominees’ confirmation.
