The Senate has suspended the screening of those whose names were submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration as ministers.

Senate Spokesman Dino Melaye announced this minutes ago in Abuja. He said: “We have decided that today should be set aside for other legislative matters while screening of ministerial nominees will continue on Tuesday and be concluded on Wednesday.”

The upper chamber, which yesterday screened and cleared eight ministerial nominees – bringing the total number screened and cleared to 18 – had been expected to continue with the process this morning.

The screening exercise began on Tuesday, with the ten nominees who appeared before the Senate getting cleared to be part of Buhari’s cabinet. They are Udoma Udo Udoma; Kayode Fayemi; Ogbonnaya Onu; Audu Ogbeh; Osagie Ehanire; Abdulrahaman Dambazzau; Lai Mohammed; Aminat Mohammed; Suleiman Adamu and Ibrahim Usman Jibril. Those who went through the process yesterday are Babatunde Raji Fashola, Ibe Kachikwu, Chris Ngige, Aisha Alhassan, Kemi Adeosun, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Sen Hadi Sirika and Barr. Solomon Dalong.

Rotimi Amaechi and Adebayo Shittu had their screening postponed due to petitions against them being investigated by the Senate Committee on Ethics while the nomination of Ahmed Isa Ibeto was withdrawn by President Muhammadu Buhari. Also still to be screened are the 15 nominees contained in the second list submitted to the Senate on Monday.

•Photo shows the Senate in session..