The Senate has confirmed the appointment of two Commissioners of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in addition to three non‑career ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu.
The confirmations were announced on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, following the consideration and adoption of reports presented during plenary.
The Senate confirmed the re‑appointment of Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello and the appointment of Dr Animashaun Fouad Olayinka as NERC Commissioners.
Their confirmations followed the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Power, which was delivered by its Chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South).
Ambassadorial Nominations Get Senate Nod
Also confirmed were the nominations of three non‑career ambassadors originally submitted by President Tinubu about two weeks ago and screened by the Senate last week.
The confirmed non‑career ambassadors are:
Lateef Kayode Kolawole Are (Ogun State)
Aminu Muhammad Dalhatu (Jigawa State)
Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, CFR (Oyo State)
Their confirmations came after the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs presented its report on the screening exercise.
While these three non‑career nominees were confirmed, 64 other ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the Senate and screened are still pending confirmation.
President Tinubu submitted the names of the three non‑career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on November 26, marking the first list of ambassadorial nominees he has submitted since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
Following the initial submission, Tinubu nominated 32 additional persons for ambassadorial roles. Notable names on the expanded list include:
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Former Governor of Enugu State
Mahmood Yakubu – Immediate past INEC Chairman
Femi Fani‑Kayode – Former Minister
Reno Omokri – Former Presidential Aide
Okezie Ikpeazu – Former Governor of Abia State
Femi Pedro – Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State
Other nominees include:
Jimoh Ibrahim – Ondo Senator and businessman
Erelu Angela Adebayo – Former Ekiti First Lady
Grace Bent – Former Adamawa Senator
Breakdown of Nominees by Category
A breakdown of the list shows four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non‑career ambassadors’ list.
The non‑career ambassador designates include:
Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
Tasiu Musa Maigari – Former Speaker, Katsina House of Assembly
Yakubu N. Gambo – Former Commissioner, Plateau & ex‑UBEC deputy executive secretary
Nora Ladi Daduut – Former Senator, Plateau
Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Fatima Florence Ajimobi – Former Oyo First Lady
Lola Akande – Former Lagos Commissioner
Paul Oga Adikwu – Former Ambassador to the Holy See (Benue)
Career Ambassadors and High Commissioner Nominees
President Tinubu also nominated several career ambassadors and high commissioner‑designates, including:
Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)
Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba)
Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa)
Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi)
Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)
Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)
Mopelola Adeola‑Ibrahim (Ogun)
Others on the list are:
Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo)
Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo)
Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger)
Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina)
Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno)
Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna)
Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara)
Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)