From: FRED ITUA, Abuja
More than one year after a former Minister of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi, died in a ghastly motor accident, along Kaduna-Abuja road, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, forwarded the name of Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni’s to the Senate for confirmation as minister.
Similarly, Suleiman Hassan’s name was also forwarded to the Senate for confirmation as minister. He is to replace Amina Mohammed, who currently serves as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). She resigned last month, while President Buhari was away in the United Kingdom (UK) for a routine medical checkup.
Professor Ocheni is a lecturer in the Kogi State University. Buhari’s letter was read to Senators at the commencement of yesterday’s session reads:
The letter reads: “In accordance with section 147 (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward the underlisted ministerial nominees for confirmation of the Senate. Stephen Ikani Ocheni (Professor), Kogi State and Suleiman Zana Hassan, Gombe State.
“It is my hope that this exercise will receive the usual kind of expeditious consideration of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”