Pressure Mounts As Senate Urges Yilwatda To Resign After Ministerial Review

Pressure Mounts As Senate Urges Yilwatda To Resign After Ministerial Review

Nentawe Yilwatda, the ministerial nominee for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has advocated for increased federal funding to Northern Nigeria, noting that approximately 65 percent of the country’s impoverished population resides in that region.…….CONTINUE READING 

Yilwatda made this statement during his confirmation screening in the Senate on Wednesday.

He argued that resource allocation should reflect a needs assessment, stressing that the northern region requires more support to combat severe poverty levels. “Sixty-five percent of poor people live in the North, while 35 percent live in the South,” he said. “We should focus on the specific needs of each local government and state, with revenue allocation based on the level of poverty or wealth in those areas.”

Following his remarks, the Senate allowed Yilwatda to “bow and leave,” a customary practice for nominees. President Bola Tinubu nominated Yilwatda last week to take over from Betta Edu, who was removed as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

The Senate is expected to make a final decision on Yilwatda’s confirmation as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) later today. Other nominees undergoing screening include Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (Minister of Labour and Employment), Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu (Minister of State, Foreign Affairs), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade, and Development), Idi Muktar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing), and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad (Minister of State, Education).