Jonathan nominates Shekarau, three others as ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday forwarded the name of former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and three other nominees to the Senate for consideration and confirmation as ministers.

Other nominees are Dr Abdul Bulama (Yobe), Dr Stephen Oru (Delta) and Mr Adedayo Adeyeye (Ekiti).

In the letter the president addressed to the senators through the Senate President, David Mark, he said it was done in accordance with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“In accordance with section 147 sub section 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I have the honour to forward the under listed ministerial nominees for consideration for senate confirmation.”

The letter, which was read by Mark, said that the Curriculum Vitae of all the nominees were attached to the letter.

It would be recalled that the Ministers of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Godsday Orubebe (Delta); Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade (Ekiti), and Finance, Mr Yerima Ngama, had resigned their appointment.

It would also be recalled that the name of Hajia Jamila Salik (Kano) had earlier been submitted for consideration and confirmation, but she was not screened by the senate.

In another letter, the president presented the 2014 budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the senate.

The letter, which was also read by the senate president, said this was in line with provisions of the NDDC Act.

“I wish to submit the 2014 estimates of expenditure and income of the commission for the kind consideration and approval of the National Assembly.

“This is in pursuant to section 18 sub sections 1 of the NDDC Establishment Act,” he said.

Jonathan said in the letter that the commission had submitted a budget of N322.600 billion for 2014 as against N315.8 billion in 2013.

According to him, this represents an increase of about 2.1 per cent over the 2013 budget.

The President explained that the budget was made up of personal expenditure of N15.8 billion, recurrent expenditure of N10 billion and capital expenditure of N2.281 billion.

He said the budget also had a project development expenditure of N295.051 billion.

He listed sources of revenue for the budget to include revenue brought forward, N23 million and Federal Government contribution, submission by the president, N50 million.

Other sources of revenue are Federal Government contribution; excess crude areas, N50 million; oil companies contributions and others, N130 million and Ecological Fund, N57 million.

The President expressed the hope that the senate would give both requests the usual expeditious consideration.

(NAN)