Tinubu Picks Balarabe To Replace El-Rufai As Minister

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Abbas Balarabe as a minister to  replace for a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate.

The replacement was conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at the plenary on Tuesday.

Balarabe’s name was read alongside Dr Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande, who were earlier nominated by the President as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths, respectively.

Balarabe, a former Secretary to the Kaduna State government, led the 65-man transition committee of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.

The Senate had in August refused to confirm the nomination of El-Rufai alongside a former Managing Director of Nexim Bank, Stella Okotete (Delta State); and Abubakar Danlandi, a nominee from Taraba State.

The President had earlier sent 48 nominees to the Senate, which confirmed 45, who have since been sworn in as ministers.