The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Bernard Doro as a minister in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmation during Thursday’s plenary, following a voice vote by lawmakers at the Committee of the Whole.
Doro’s appointment comes after he was nominated to replace Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who previously served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction before his recent appointment as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although President Tinubu did not specify a portfolio in his request for Doro’s screening, the only existing ministerial vacancy is in the humanitarian affairs ministry.
Akpabio had on October 22 read the President’s letter seeking legislative approval for the nominee’s confirmation, which was subsequently referred to the Committee of the Whole.
During the 30-minute screening session, senators questioned Doro about his vision for the humanitarian ministry, his career background, and his readiness to uphold transparency in public service.
He was accompanied to the Senate chamber by his wife, Naomi, the APC national chairman, Yilwatda, and prominent politicians from Plateau State.
Several lawmakers, including Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) and Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central), urged that the nominee be allowed to “take a bow and go,” citing his credentials and the presence of the APC national chairman. Their motion was unanimously approved.
Doro, who holds certifications in healthcare leadership, management, and law from the United Kingdom, told lawmakers that he intended to bring his global experience into government service.
“I intend to contribute my quota to the Renewed Hope Agenda by transferring the different experiences to help in policy crafting and implementation. I should be a voice that’ll impact the country positively,” he said.
If assigned to the humanitarian ministry, Doro said his priority would be to establish an efficient, transparent, and people-centered humanitarian system.
“Regarding the security crisis, obviously there is a consequence. The consequence is what has led to the displacement of individuals and their stay in IDP camps.
“So should I be assigned the humanitarian ministry, what I will be looking to do is to create a humanitarian ecosystem that is efficient, transparent, and centered on the person being cared for,” he stated.
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He added that collaboration among the agencies under the ministry would help reduce duplication of functions and improve service delivery.
“And I believe that when we create synergy amongst the different agencies under the humanitarian ministry, we can reduce duplication and achieve better results.
“One of the main challenges is targeting the intended beneficiaries, and I believe technology can help us achieve that,” he added.
Doro assured lawmakers of his commitment to accountability and cooperation with the legislature.
“And regarding the Senate’s power to make laws, that is not in doubt.
“We will cooperate when the need arises for investigation to make sure that laws are enacted that will better the life of individuals and that will also help in the discharge of the ministry’s core responsibilities,” he said.
