The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday conducted a screening of former ministers Femi Fani-Kayode and Abdulrahman Dambazau for potential ambassadorial appointments. Both nominees previously served as Minister of Aviation and Minister of Interior, respectively, and had undergone full Senate confirmations during their prior ministerial tenures.
During the session, former ministers, ambassadors, and lawmakers were asked to “take a bow and leave”, following Senate tradition. This practice allows nominees with established public service records to bypass extended questioning, given their prior clearance and verified public profiles.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the continued use of this procedure, explaining that it applies to individuals with substantial and verifiable public service experience.
Bamidele emphasized that any nominee who has previously served in the National Assembly or held high-level public office automatically qualifies for this privilege. He added that lawmakers are already familiar with their legislative history, achievements, and public service record.
The confirmation of both Fani-Kayode and Dambazau now awaits ratification by the full Senate. This screening session comes following President Bola Tinubu’s submission of a list of 32 ambassadorial nominees on November 29 for Senate approval.
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