President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will this week submit the list of Ministerial nominees to the senate. This ,as it’s getting to 18 days to the expiration of time given for such by the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended).
A 60-day window for nomination of nominees for ministerial positions by the president after assumption of office was added to provisions of the 1999 Constitution through amendment to that effect by the 9th National Assembly.
The provision was concurred to by 27 out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari March this year.
By virtue of the provision which specifically states that “a President or Governor, must forward list of nominees for ministerial or commissioners’ positions, within 60 days of his or her assumption of office,” President Tinubu has just 18 days more to do that.
Specifically, the 60-day window given for nominations of the would-be ministers at the federal level by the president and commissioners by governors who took oath of office on the 29th of May, 2023, expires Friday, 28th July, 2023.
Feelers from the Senate at the weekend, indicate that in beating the deadline, President Tinubu will forward the list of his ministerial nominees to the red chamber this week.
The list, as disclosed by a highly placed source in the Senate who pleaded for anonymity, needs to be received this week for thorough dissection of resumes of the nominees by senators, preparatory to screening and confirmation next and upper weeks.
The source who is very close to the Villa and presently one of principal officers of the 10th Senate, further informed Blueprint that request for screening and confirmation of the newly appointed Service Chiefs, will also be treated this week.
According to him, the presidential communication on the request (screening of service chiefs) got to the Senate last week Wednesday but not read during plenary Thursday due to the unavoidable absence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“It was read in the House of Representatives in plenary last week Thursday, will be read in the Senate Tuesday, this week and immediately considered for expeditious approval ahead of ministerial screening, confirmation and approval, next and upper weeks ” he said.
The source added that the factor of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, as the Chief of Staff to the President now, will play out in getting list of ministerial nominees to the Senate this week for two purposes of acting within the law and respecting the legislative calendar in the National Assembly.
“As 28th of this month is the last day provided for by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for submission of list of ministerial nominees to the Senate , 27th of this month, is also being looked at by both Chambers for commencement of long vacation.
“Therefore, aside the two Senior Special Assistants to the President on National Assembly Matters (both Senate and House of Representatives), the Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, will also guide the President aright, as far as the required communication on ministerial nominees is concerned,” he said
He, however, dismissed as fake, the list of ministerial nominees being bandied on social media in the last few days.
The list which had speculated nominees across the 36 States of the Federation, listed former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed El-Rufai, Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina), Engineer Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Senator Bagudu Atiku (Kebbi), Tanko Makura (Nasarawa state), Pat Utomi (Delta), Hon Dimeji Bankole (Ogun), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) and Gbemi Saraki (Kwara) among others.