Senate confirms Bello, 39 others as Ambassadors

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Hon. Adejare Bello and thirty nine others as Ambassadors.

The confirmation comes exactly three weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate, seeking confirmation of their appointments “in accordance to Section 171(2)(1c) and Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution.”

The confirmation was sequel to the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened the nominees.

Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Muhammad Bulkachuwa, said the screening was done physically for those of them in Nigeria, and virtually for those outside the country.

He said the criteria used for the screening include police report, clearance from the State Security Service, additional information from the National Intelligence Agency, tax clearance, Nigeria’s foreign policy, appearance and general knowledge.

Forty-one nominees, he said, appeared before the panel and all 41 of them exhibited high knowledge of diplomacy. He added that the nomination is a mixture of gender, youth and consideration for the elderly.

He therefore, recommended that the Senate confirms 39 non-career ambassadors and one career ambassador. While confirmation for the other two nominees will be done after screening on a later date.

The lawmakers, in the Committee of the Whole, considered the committee’s report and confirmed the nominees.

After the confirmation, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, admonished nominees to interact with lawmakers from their state “in the interest of everyone.”