Buhari To Submit List Of Ministers To NASS Next Week

President Muhammadu Buhari

From the date of his inauguration as Nigeria's president on May 29, 2015, perhaps the most feverish speculation concerning the new admnistration has been about the names and faces which would be unveiled in President Muhammadu Buhari's ministerial appointments.

Apart from the ministerial appointments, there are other critical appointments including appointments into the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation as well as the office of the National Security Adviser. 

GRAPHITTI NEWS reports on developments on the expected appointments as reported by Nigerian media:

Vanguard reports President Mohammadu Buhari is set to unveil list of his Ministers next week baring any unforeseen circumstances that may prevent it.

Two of those expected to make the new list of Ministers are the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fasola who may be appointed the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.

Similarly, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau (retd) may also come in for a very sensitive security appointment.

It will be recalled that Dambazau headed the Security and Intelligence Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council just as Fayemi also headed that of Policy, Research and Strategy.

The list may also be sent to the National Assembly which had formally resumed duties following its inauguration on Tuesday. A source from Buhari’s political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC told Vanguard that the president had had to delay the list because the 8th parliament was yet to come on stream.

However, the list, Saturday Vanguard gathered, would be received by the Clerk of the National Assembly on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki who would then make it available for screening immediately the senate resumes.

It will be recalled that the two chambers of the federal legislature adjourned on Wednesday to resume plenary on June 23.

One of the reasons for the two weeks break was to enable the authorities of the National Assembly to allocate offices for the newly elected lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Saturday Vanguard gathered that the size of the Ministers may not exceed the constitutional stipulation of 36 which would see each of the 36 States of the federation producing one minister.

In any case, a source around the president said that some ministries may be merged as a way of improving efficiency, focus and reducing the cost of governance.

It was learnt that Buhari was so keen in assembling a team of technocrats who have proven integrity to work with.

The source however said that president Buhari is under pressure to accommodate his party’s interest to compensate some politicians who worked for the victory of APC at the last general elections.

But it was learnt that the president may not bow to such pressure.

According to him, what was still uppermost in the mind of the president is to ensure that before the first 100 days in office, security of the country would have been improved.

“President Buhari is so keen in solving the security problem of Nigeria by stamping out Boko Haram. If you recall since he assumed office, he has not relented. He has travelled to the Neigbouring Niger and Chad. He also attended the G7 meeting in Berlin, Germany.

“In all of those meetings, the security of this country was topmost. I can assure you that soon Nigerians would heave a big sigh of relief. These efforts would yield positive result. The president knows what he is doing. He equally knows that the first 100 days are very crucial and he is committed to making Nigerians proud of their country. The only thing he needs from Nigerians is their patience.

“On the ministerial list, he wants to get his acts right. With the inauguration of the National Assembly, the list can be sent to the senate for screening. I can also assure you that Nigerians would appreciate the quality of people that will make the list”, the source said.

Fashola, Segun Oni, Amaechi, Ezekwesili, Danbazzau May Make Buhari’s Cabinet

•Obasanjo, Danjuma, Tinubu, Atiku, Saraki nominate candidates •President may submit list to NASS next week

The Nation reports the immediate past governors of Lagos and Rivers states, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi respectively; a former governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni and Education minister in the Obasanjo government, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, may be among the ministerial nominees being considered by President Muhammadu Buhari, The Nation has gathered.

Also believed to be on the list expected to be forwarded to the Senate next week are a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Abdurahman Danbazzau; Prof. Pat Utomi of the Pan Africa University, Lagos and Chief Economic Adviser to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, Dr.Tanimu Yakubu Kirfi.

One of ex-Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi and ex-Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola may also be picked.

Presidency sources said last night that while Buhari is keen on having a lean cabinet, the 1999 Constitution is an impediment as it stipulates that every state of the federation must be represented in the Federal Executive Council.

Buhari and his think-tank are said to have realized that the size of the incoming cabinet cannot be less than 36.

Although the President is keeping the list to his chest, it was learnt that he is disposed to accepting nomination of capable, tested and what one source called “ethical” candidates from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the newly-elected Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Ex-Minister Bolaji Abdullahi and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje are likely to slug it out for the Kwara State slot.

Buhari is also said to favour consulting Tinubu on some slots, regardless of pressure from some elements in the Presidency.

A source said: “The President has been consulting widely on the list of his ministers. All things being equal, some candidates from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the newly-elected Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki may make the list.

“Some of these heavyweights have submitted advisory names but it is left for the President to reject or accept them.

“Governors will have less input into the cabinet. The President is actually fine-tuning the list of ministers which he will soon send to the National Assembly. We are hopeful that in the next one week or two, the legislature may get the list.

“As I am talking to you, the President is keeping the list to his chest. I am aware that some ex-governors may make the team on merit.”

On the provisions of Section 147(1-3),one source said: “It is difficult for the President to manage a cabinet that is less than 36 because of the constitutional provision.

“The President may however reduce the perks of office of Ministers and make the posts less lucrative except for genuine ones who want to serve the nation. So in the light of 147(1-3), the President is handicapped and he has to run the government with at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.”

The section reads: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:

“Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

When contacted, one of the strategists of the new administration said: “The President is still keeping the list of ministers to his chest; he has not disclosed any list.”