Reps pass bill mandating portfolios for ministerial nominees

The House of Representatives has advanced a bill to its second reading, aiming to mandate the inclusion of specific portfolios in the nomination lists for Ministers and Commissioners submitted by the President and State Governors.

Leading the debate, Okechukwu Dibiagwu highlighted that attaching portfolios to nominees would allow lawmakers in the national and state assemblies to conduct more effective and targeted scrutiny during confirmation processes.

In related developments, a separate bill proposing an extension of the retirement age for health workers across Nigeria has also progressed to its second reading.

This bill could bring significant changes to the healthcare workforce by retaining experienced health personnel in service for extended periods.

A brief update on this was shared by the Nigerian Television Authority on its X account on Friday.

It read, “The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking mandatory inclusion of portfolios in the nomination list of Ministers and Commissioners by the President or State Governors.

“In his lead debate, Sponsor of the Bill Representative Okechukwu Dibiagwu argued that attaching portfolios to the list of nominations for ministerial positions will enhance thorough scrutiny of nominees by lawmakers at the national and state assemblies.

“Another bill proposing an extension of the retirement age of health workers in Nigeria also scaled second reading.”

Details later