President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the nomination of Joseph Tegbe as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with a specific portfolio in the power sector.
The request was read during Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following the transmission of a letter from the President seeking legislative approval in line with constitutional provisions.
Citing Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Tinubu emphasised that ministerial appointments require Senate confirmation and urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the nominees.
In the same communication, the President also forwarded the names of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye for appointment as Minister of State, and Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
A statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed that the nominations had been duly transmitted for screening and confirmation.
Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Like his predecessor, Tegbe hails from Oyo State and brings over three decades of experience in fiscal policy, economic reform, and governance.
He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major initiatives in institutional transformation and policy development.
His professional background also includes advising government agencies and private sector organisations on regulatory frameworks, investment structuring, and strategic reforms.
Before his nomination, Tegbe held the position of Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he was instrumental in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The Senate is expected to schedule screening sessions for the nominees in the coming days as part of the constitutional process required before their formal appointment into office.
