President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees will face a tough week at the Senate as lawmakers prepare a strict screening process aimed at testing competence, integrity, and loyalty to Nigeria’s interests.

Several opposition senators told Joliba News that next week’s exercise would not be “business as usual,” stressing that Nigeria’s diplomatic representation is too important to be treated as political reward.

One ranking senator said the country needs capable envoys who can defend Nigeria before the international community. He warned that the era of embassy postings as “jobs for the boys” must end if Nigeria hopes to rebuild global influence.

Another lawmaker said nominees would be thoroughly questioned to ensure they are “fit for purpose.”

The Senate received the President’s request on Thursday, making this the largest diplomatic lists submitted by the administration so far.

The communication from the Presidency contained 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career nominees. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out the letter and referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with a one-week deadline to complete all screenings.

Notable nominees include experienced diplomats such as Ambassador Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed and Ahmed Mohammed Monguno, alongside high-profile non-career figures like former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ibas, former presidential aide Ita Enang, and former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd).

Their inclusion signals a blend of bureaucracy and politics in the administration’s choices.

The latest list arrived less than 24 hours after the Senate began screening an initial batch of three nominees.

Senator Sani Bello, who chairs the committee, said former DG of DSS Kayode Are used his appearance to respond to allegations raised in past reports.

The full Senate will receive the report on the earlier nominees in the coming days.

Why Tinubu Sent Ambassadorial Nomination in Batches

The staggered submission of names appears to be part of a careful rollout to fill major diplomatic gaps left open since the beginning of Tinubu’s administration.

Nigeria has been without fully appointed ambassadors for almost two years, a delay government officials blamed on financial constraints and the dire condition of many foreign missions.

The Federal Government allocated ₦53 billion in the 2024 budget to renovate 103 embassies, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but experts say the real cost could approach $1 billion.

Many missions lack functional offices, decent staff quarters, vehicles, or funds for basic operations.

Analysts warn this long diplomatic vacuum has weakened Nigeria’s influence at the UN, African Union, and other global platforms.

It also reduced the nation’s ability to negotiate effectively, protect Nigerians abroad, or attract investment. Others argue that political bargaining, regional balancing, and power struggles inside the ruling APC contributed to the delay.

Tinubu’s nominees include dozens of career diplomats from every state, such as Ambassadors Ezenwa Chukwuemeka (Abia), Monica Ogochukwu (Anambra), Mohammed Mahmoud Lele (Bauchi), Ahmed Monguno (Borno), Ramata Mohammed (Lagos), and Luther Obomode Ayokalata (Rivers).

The list also features prominent non-career figures like Senator Grace Bent, Florence Ajimobi, Olufemi Pedro, Lt. Gen. Dambazau (rtd), Professor Nora Daduut, and Femi Fani-Kayode.

A separate report claimed that nominee Adamu Garba Talba died months ago, but this could not be independently verified by press time.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs now faces an intense week as it screens all 65 names.

Many diplomats believe the outcome will shape Nigeria’s global posture heading into 2025, especially as major countries like the United States, China, and the UK appear to be recalibrating their engagement with Abuja.

Atiku Faults Tinubu Over Yakubu’s Nomination

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lambasted President Tinubu for nominating Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, as a non-career ambassador.

In a post shared on his X page, Atiku said such an appointment sends a damaging message to Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that no responsible leader should reward an umpire who presided over what he called one of the most disputed elections in Nigeria’s history.

“Let me state without ambiguity: under no circumstance would I nominate the immediate past INEC Chairman for an ambassadorial position,” Atiku wrote.

He argued that the move produces “terrible optics” for an administration battling credibility issues.

Yakubu’s nomination arrived only weeks after leaving office, and many Nigerians still question the conduct of the 2023 elections.

Atiku said such appointments weaken trust in institutions and risk encouraging future electoral misconduct.

His criticism adds pressure as the Senate prepares to question all nominees next week.

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