Senate confirms Balarabe, two others as Ministers

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Abbas Balarabe, Dr. Jamila Ibrahaim and Ayodele Olawande as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had forwarded the names of the three  ministerial nominees to the Senate which was announced during the plenary on Tuesday.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement.

During the Senate screening on Wednesday, there were reports that one of the nominees, Balarabe, who replaced Nasir El-Rufai slumped during screening.

Balarabe had just finished sharing his experiences when the incident occurred.

He was the second nominee to undergo screening after Ibrahim, approximately 15 minutes into his screening at the Senate.

After reading his profile, Balarabe received an endorsement from the Kaduna lawmaker, who indicated that three senators from the state validated his nomination.

But, Balarabe slumped on the podium while the Kaduna South senator, Sunday Katung was giving an appraisal of Balarabe’s administrative background.

After his sudden slump, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio shouted, “Bring water and sugar. Call Dr. Wale.”

The Senate President asked journalists and cameramen to stop filming and leave the Senate plenary.

Balarabe was immediately rushed to the National Assembly clinic.

The Senate then resumed after about a 45-minute break to confirm the three nominees.