By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested Senate confirmation for the nomination of Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of the Federal Republic, alongside Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The request, conveyed in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also included the nomination of Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State.
Citing Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the nominees, noting that ministerial appointments require legislative confirmation.
Tegbe, who was earlier nominated as Minister of Power, is stepping into the spotlight following the resignation of Adebayo Adelabu, who left office to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.
With over 35 years of experience across public and private sectors, Tegbe is widely regarded as a fiscal and economic reform expert. A former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, he has led major initiatives in fiscal policy reform, governance, and institutional transformation.
He also previously served as Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he played a key role in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The nominations now await Senate screening and confirmation, a process expected to shape the administration’s next phase of governance and reforms in key sectors.
