By RismadarVoice Media, December 11, 2025
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday screened two former ministers: Femi Fani-Kayode and Abdulrahman Dambazau for ambassadorial appointments.
Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, and Dambazau, a former Minister of Interior, had previously undergone full Senate vetting during their ministerial confirmations under past administrations.
As a result, their screening on Thursday was brief.
After their introductions, the committee asked both nominees to “take a bow, leave,” citing Senate tradition for individuals with long-standing public service and prior clearance by the National Assembly.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele defended the continued application of the privilege, noting that it is reserved for nominees with “established and verifiable records of public service.”
According to him, anyone who has previously served in the National Assembly automatically qualifies, as their legislative history and public reputation are already familiar to lawmakers.
The nominees’ confirmations now await approval by the full Senate.
The screening session followed President Bola Tinubu’s submission of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation on November 29, 2025
