The Senate has restated that ambassadorial nominees who have not been screened and confirmed by the upper chamber are not eligible to receive posting letters from the Federal Government.
The clarification comes after public confusion over the brief appointment and subsequent withdrawal of former Kebbi State governor, Usman Dakingari, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Dakingari was named among four posted nominees in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, before his posting was reversed within 24 hours.
Onanuga had said the postings were drawn from the 68 nominees earlier confirmed by the Senate. However, reports later indicated that Dakingari was not among those screened and cleared by the lawmakers, raising questions about how his name made the final list.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu said Senate confirmation is a mandatory requirement and that no nominee can be deployed without it.
“Anyone not cleared by the Senate will not receive a posting letter,” Adaramodu said, adding that while ambassadorial postings fall under the executive’s authority, legislative approval remains compulsory.
He suggested the incident may have resulted from an administrative oversight rather than deliberate action, noting that the prompt withdrawal of the posting pointed to internal corrective measures.
The initial announcement also included the appointment of former DSS Director-General Kayode Are as ambassador-designate to the United States, former NIA Director-General Ayodele Oke to France, and ex-ambassador to South Korea, Aminu Dalhatu, as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
Adaramodu said the Senate expects stricter adherence to due process going forward, stressing that only nominees duly confirmed by the chamber are eligible for diplomatic deployment.
