The Nigerian senate has said it is ready to commence the screening of 33 ministerial nominees sent to it for approval by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Senate Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Manzo has announced in Abuja, saying the higher chamber would on Monday begin a screening of the nominees.
"The senate will be holding a special session on Monday, March 29, to commence the screening of ministerial nominees," he said.
A competent source had previously told Xinhua on phone that the Acting President
had been consulting with the Leadership of the Senate to ensure a quick screening of the nominees.
The Senate Spokesperson Ayogu Eze in confirmation told a news conference later that the Senate would postpone its scheduled Easter vacation by one week so as to ensure that work on the ministerial list was quickly concluded.
Nigerian Senate President David Mark on Wednesday listed 33 ministerial nominees after the government was dissolved last week.
The listed officials were nominated by Acting President, who sacked the government last Wednesday in a bid to consolidate his grip on power after taking over the duty from ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.
The list is part of the new government for approval by the Senate, which includes nine members of the outgoing Cabinet and a banker.
The Senate Leader said the nominees were only "the first batch" for appointment before a second to be submitted for confirmation. More than 40 ministers are expected in the government in the making.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, was without President Yar'Adua for 93 days due to his illness.
Yar' Adua left the country on Nov. 23 to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He returned to the country on Feb. 24, but has never been seen in public.
The Nigerian National Assembly on Feb. 9 empowered Jonathan to take over the mandate as Acting President.
Nominees who were in the Former Cabinet are: Fidelia Njeze (Enugu); Godsday Orubebe (Delta); Arch Nuhu Soho Wya (Kogi); Adetokunbo Kayode (Ondo); Henry Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) (Rivers); Sen. Akinlabi Olasunkanmi (Osun); Dezeani Allison Madukwe (Baylesa); Dr. Shamsudeen Usman (Kano) and Prof. Dora Akunyili (Anambra).
Newly nominated members are: Chukwuemeka Ngozi Wogu (Abia); Josephine Anenih (Anambra); Labaran Maku (Nassarawa); Eng. Chris Ogwiewenyi (Edo); Alhaji Suleiman Bello (Zamfara); Alh. Murtala Yarádua (Katsina); Sen. Sanusi Daggash
(Borno); Sen.Sen Bala Mohammed (Sokoto); Hon. Nduese Essien (A/Ibom);Josephine Tapgun (Plateau); Mohammed Bello Adoke (Kogi); Navy Capt, Ernest Olubolade (Ekiti); Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga (Lagos) and Prof. M.K Abubakar
(Kebbi).
The others are: Alh. Adamu Waziri (Yobe); Alh. Umar Aliyu (Taraba); Awodele Najim Adewole Alao (Ogun); Alh Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed (Gombe); Yusuf Suleiman (Sokoto); Prof Rubia Rufai (Jigawa); Arch. Musa Sad'aa (Katsina);
Prof F Abdulah (Niger);Capt. Emmanuel Iheneacho (Imo) and Sen. Jubril Martins Kuye (Ogun).