Senate halts ministerial confirmation of Kingsley Udeh over pending security clearance

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday suspended the confirmation process for Kingsley Udeh (SAN), a ministerial nominee from Enugu State, citing the absence of a mandatory security clearance.

Presiding over the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that the chamber could not proceed with the confirmation until the required security report was submitted. “The confirmation of the minister-nominee would have been next on the list, but we need security clearance,” Akpabio stated.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on Tuesday, forwarded Udeh’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation, in accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates Senate approval for ministerial appointments.

Udeh’s nomination comes in the wake of the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down last month amid controversy surrounding his academic credentials. Nnaji’s exit left Enugu State without representation in the Federal Executive Council.

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Following the reading of the President’s letter, Akpabio referred Udeh’s nomination to the Committee of the Whole for screening. However, when the matter appeared on Wednesday’s Order Paper, the Senate President announced a pause in proceedings due to the missing clearance.

Akpabio hinted that a senator had informed him the nominee was en route to the National Assembly with the clearance document. This prompted Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) to caution against breaching institutional protocols. “This is an institution. I have nothing against the young man; I know him. But let’s respect this institution. You can’t wait for the nominee because he’s coming with a security clearance letter. No, that’s not done,” Ningi asserted.

Responding, Akpabio clarified that the Senate would not wait indefinitely. “I don’t even have any intention of waiting for anybody because after screening them, you don’t see them again,” he said.

The Senate President subsequently directed the Senate Leader to move a motion for a closed-door session to deliberate on national issues. The motion was seconded, and lawmakers dissolved into an executive session.

Senate halts ministerial confirmation of Kingsley Udeh over pending security clearance