Days after they returned to work, the Nigerian Senate approved the appointment of Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso and his deputies to lead the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the following candidates for the deputy governorship positions: Dr. Bala M. Bello, Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo.
After being screened, Senate President Godswill Akpabio revealed that the nominations had been confirmed.
The Senate had earlier announced that it would vet Cardoso and the other nominees who would work with him to lead the apex bank’s operations for the next five years in a statement released by the Senate Leader’s Media Office, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
Cardoso officially took over as the acting governor of the top bank that same morning, according to a story published by ProbitasNews on Friday.
“Similarly, the Deputy-Governors-Designate have also assumed duty, in acting capacities, sequel to the formal resignation of Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, Mr. Edward Lametek Adamu, and Dr. Kingsley Obiora as Deputy Governors of the CBN,” stated a statement released by Isa AbdulMumin, the CBN spokesperson.
Concurrently, the Senate declared that upon returning from its yearly break, it would scrutinize each and every nominee.
“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will resume plenary on Tuesday, September 26,” the announcement stated. The Committee of the Whole will discuss Dr. Cardoso’s screening.
“Dr. Cardoso will be screened with Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, and Dr. Bala M. Bello, the four deputy governors.
Additionally, on October 3, the Senate is set to screen the nominations for ministerial positions, Mr. Ayodele Olawande and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, who have been appointed as Minister of State for Youth and Minister of Youth, respectively.
According to a September 15 ProbitasNews article, Tinubu first nominated Cardoso for a five-year term, subject to the Nigerian Senate’s ratification.
In addition, the president proposed four new Deputy Governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), initially for a five-year tenure, subject to Senate confirmation.
Following Tinubu’s June suspension of Godwin Emefiele as the central bank’s governor, the Department of State Services (DSS) took him into custody.