President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially transmitted several high-level appointments to the Senate for confirmation, signaling a strategic reshuffle within the nation’s financial and energy regulatory sectors.
The requests were contained in formal letters read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session, marking the Senate’s return from a three-week recess.
Minister of State for Finance: The President has nominated Taiwo Oyedele to serve as the Minister of State for Finance. A renowned public policy expert and former Fiscal Policy Partner at PwC, Oyedele previously chaired the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. If confirmed, he will succeed Doris Uzoka-Anite, who has been redeployed as Minister of State for Budget and National Planning.
Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC): Additionally, the President sought the confirmation of Senator Magnus Abe as the Chairman of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), alongside two commissioner nominees, to strengthen oversight of the nation’s petroleum resources.
Federal Character Commission: Francis Ifeanyi Asogwa has been nominated to represent the South-East region.
Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC): In a move to bolster the nation’s standing in international sports, President Tinubu has nominated Mr. Mainasara Illo as the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre (NADC).
The nomination, made pursuant to Section 15 of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act 2025, proposes an initial four-year term for Mr. Illo. President Tinubu expressed confidence in the nominee’s ability to lead the center, urging the Senate to consider the request with its “usual expeditious manner.”
Senate President Akpabio has subsequently referred the nomination to the Committees on Narcotics and Sports for a joint screening exercise.
Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC): In a separate correspondence, the President sought the confirmation of two nominees to serve as Commissioners within the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), in accordance with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The nominees are: Amina Gamawa (representing Bauchi State) and Abdullahi Mukhtar (representing Kaduna State)
This request has been referred to the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, with a mandate to report back to the Red Chamber within one week.
The Presidency emphasized that these appointments are critical for the continued transparency and efficiency of federal agencies. The Senate has signaled its readiness to process these nominations promptly to ensure no vacuum in the leadership of these vital institutions.
“These nominations reflect the administration’s commitment to injecting technical expertise into critical sectors of the economy, particularly in fiscal policy and energy regulation.”
All nominations have been referred to the relevant Senate Committees including Judiciary, Narcotics and Drugs, and Sports for immediate screening.
In addition to the appointments, President Tinubu transmitted the 2026 Statutory Budget of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
