ABUJA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday approved 38 ministerial nominees sent to it by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan after the government was dissolved last week.

Senate President David Mark announced the approval after the screening of ministerial nominees.

The Nigerian acting leader on March 23 sent names of ministerial nominees to the Senate for approval after he dissolved the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as part of the efforts to rejuvenate his government on March 17.

The Nigerian National Assembly on Feb. 9 empowered Vice President Jonathan to take over from ill President Umaru Yar'Adua.

The decision of the House of Representatives came after the Senate endorsed a motion to empower Jonathan as acting president in the absence of Yar 'Adua.

On Feb. 10, Jonathan ordered the replacement of the country's former Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa after presiding over the council meeting. Jonathan also on March 8 appointed Aliyu Gusau as a new security adviser.

The acting president later made a formal request to the Senate to appoint five new special advisers one day after he appointed a new national security adviser.

In a letter to the Senate, the acting president said the appointments were to compliment the exigencies of his new office and the jobs that it brought forward.