The Senate has confirmed 64 nominees for career and non-career ambassadorial positions after considering and adopting a report presented by its Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The confirmation followed the presentation of the committee’s findings by its chairman, Senator Sani Bello, during plenary on Thursday.
The lawmakers subsequently approved the recommendations, clearing the nominees for diplomatic postings.
During the session, Senator Sahabi Yau raised concerns over the absence of any nominee from Zamfara State in the list and urged the Senate leadership to draw the President’s attention to the omission.
In response, the President of the Senate acknowledged the concern, explaining that the list before the chamber was not comprehensive.
He assured senators that additional nominations were expected and that Zamfara State would be accommodated in subsequent submissions.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier forwarded a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on Dec. 4, seeking confirmation for 65 candidates made up of 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career nominees, including high commissioners.
The request was formally read on the floor of the Senate.
The non-career nominees include several well-known political figures, among them a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
Others on the list are former lawmaker Ita Enang, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Chioma Ohakim, Bello Danbazau, retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, among others.
The nominations have attracted mixed reactions from the public and professional groups.
Some critics questioned the suitability of certain nominees, while the Nigerian Bar Association faulted the Senate’s screening process, describing it as overly perfunctory.
However, the Presidency has defended the selections.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, said the nominees reflect the President’s judgment of those best suited to advance Nigeria’s diplomatic interests.
He added that their performance would ultimately be judged by results.
