In new appointments, President Tinubu has announced the nomination of Dr. Olayemi Cardoso for confirmation as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He has additionally nominated four others as Deputy Governors of the CBN. They include Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor and Bala Bello. The President also nominated Jamila Ibrahim (Kwara State) and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo State) for appointment as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth, respectively.
Both the ministerial nominations and the nominations for the leadership of the CBN are subject to Senate confirmation. It is expected that upon resumption of the Senate from its long recess, the nominees will be invited for screening.
The nomination of Dr. Cardoso as CBN Governor comes amidst the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as CBN Governor in June 2023. He has since been held in the custody of the Department for State Services (DSS), while a Deputy Governor of the CBN, Folashodun Shonubi took over as Acting CBN Governor.
According to section 11 of the CBN Act 2007, the Governor, a Deputy Governor or Director of the CBN may cease to hold office for several grounds, including removal by the President, supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate. The latter requirement appeared to be left unsatisfied in the removal process of Emefiele’s predecessor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Sanusi served as CBN Governor between 2009 and 2014 and was also suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan without the two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.
It will be recalled that President Tinubu assigned portfolios to Ministers-designate and swore them in, in August 2023, after the confirmation of three out of his 48 ministerial nominees was left pending over security clearance issues. Ahead of the swearing in ceremony, the President reshuffled his cabinet, which saw the reassignment of Abubakar Momoh (Edo State) from the Ministry of Youth to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Ministry. Now, the President has made two nominations for the Ministry of Youth. However, the slot for Minister of Environment is still yet to be filled, although the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako has taken charge of the ministry’s affairs.
The three nominees who did not receive Senate confirmation are from Delta, Kaduna and Taraba States. While there are other nominees who were confirmed as Ministers from Delta and Taraba States, there is currently no Minister from Kaduna State in President Tinubu’s cabinet. It is unclear whether the President has concluded his ministerial appointments. However, it is important to note that Sections 14 (3) and 147 (3) and of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution require the President to give effect to the Federal Character Principle in ministerial appointments by appointing at least one Minister from each State.