A ministerial nominee, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Wednesday slumped while being screened by the Senate, sparking frantic scenes in the Chamber.
The nominee, who is from Kaduna State, had spoken for several minutes during his screening before falling to the floor as several lawmakers rushed t
As soon as the incident occurred, the Senate President, Godswil Akpabio, was heard requesting water and sugar to revive the ministerial nominee.
“Water, water! Can you give him sugar and water? Can someone bring water and sugar? Please, call Dr Wale!” Akpabio exclaimed.
He was revived at the Chamber before being taken to the hospital but his current condition remains unknown.
He had said, “I want to indicate clearly that, as part of my career, I was appointed secretary to the government three times from 2015 till today. I want to say that I am likely the longest-serving secretary to the government in Nigeria.
“I have been part of administration; I have been part of policy making. I have been part of trying to change things in the country based on what I did at the federal level and at the state level.
Lawal is one of the three new ministerial nominees being screened by the Senate, with others being Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.
He was the second nominee to be screened after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to extend the sitting time beyond 2 pm to conclude all the items for the day.
The Senate, however, resumed after a 45-minute break and thereafter confirmed the three nominees.
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