President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, requesting the confirmation of Usman Isa Dakingari as a non-career ambassador, following a recent controversy surrounding his earlier announcement as ambassador-designate.
Gatekeepers News reports that the request was presented during Tuesday’s plenary session and read by the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio. In the letter, the president urged the upper chamber to urgently consider and approve the nomination in line with constitutional provisions.
“I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,” the letter read.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Akpabio disclosed that the Senate committee on foreign affairs has been directed to review the request and submit its findings within one week for further legislative action.
The development comes days after the presidency announced Dakingari as ambassador-designate to Turkey, a move that immediately sparked public debate and legal concerns. The controversy arose because his name did not appear on the list of 68 ambassadorial nominees earlier screened, debated, and confirmed by the Senate in December.
Although the presidency maintained that Dakingari was among those approved by lawmakers, independent verification revealed that his name was not included in the list officially confirmed by the upper chamber.
According to constitutional provisions, ambassadorial nominees must be approved by the Senate by name, and no deployment can be made for individuals who have not gone through the required legislative confirmation process.
Following public scrutiny and constitutional concerns, the presidency withdrew Dakingari’s posting to Turkey less than 24 hours after the initial announcement. The fresh request now seeks to regularize the process and obtain formal Senate approval before any further diplomatic deployment.
If confirmed, Dakingari will join Nigeria’s diplomatic corps as a non-career ambassador, a category often reserved for political appointees and experienced professionals assigned to represent the country’s interests abroad.
