Senate Confirms Bernard Doro as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs

Senate Confirms Bernard Doro as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs

The Senate, on Thursday, confirmed Bernard Doro as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, following his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

President Tinubu had, in a letter dated October 21, forwarded Doro’s name to the upper chamber for screening and confirmation.

Doro’s appointment comes on the heels of the election of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July. Yilwatda, accompanied by his wife, was present at the Senate chamber to witness the screening exercise.

During the session, Doro fielded questions from senators Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and Tahir Monguno (Borno North), outlining his vision for an efficient and transparent humanitarian sector.

“I will create a humanitarian ecosystem that is efficient, transparent, and centred on the individual being served,” he said. “Our goal is to restore dignity, ensure needs are met, and uphold well-established humanitarian principles, including impartiality.”

The minister-designate further pledged to strengthen synergy among relevant government agencies to curb duplication of efforts and enhance service delivery.

“I will create synergy among government agencies to reduce overlap and achieve measurable results. I also believe technology can drive this process efficiently,” he added.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) lauded Doro’s professional track record and described his nomination as well-deserved.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, and Doro’s confirmation was unanimously approved.

In his remarks, Akpabio congratulated the new minister for his impressive performance during screening.

“I congratulate the nominee, who has demonstrated exceptional competence worthy of confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpabio said. “I also commend President Tinubu for his commitment to identifying and appointing capable Nigerians into national service.”

With the confirmation, Bernard Doro is expected to resume duties immediately as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, with a mandate to reform and reposition the nation’s humanitarian response architecture.