Nigerian Senate unveils Tinubu’s ministerial list
BY BINTU JIDDA KANEMPRESS
19TH JULY, 2023
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has sent the list of ministerial nominees to the Senate, and to be read out by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, after 50 days in office.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal, received the letter containing the list on Tuesday.
By law, the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu is bound to submit the list of ministerial nominees within 60 days of assuming office .
He has until July 26 to fulfill this requirement.
Reports say the ministerial list had been prepared well in advance, but recent adjustments were made to ensure its utmost effectiveness.
“The list of ministerial nominees has been ready since, but the President had to make some changes in some states,” a source revealed.
Nigerians are anxiously expecting the unveiling of the ministerial list, leading to the circulation of various speculative lists in recent weeks.
It is believed that with the delay, President Tinubu would have skillfully guarded his choices, as those technocrats, who will ultimately secure portfolios in the final list of cabinet members in addressing the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria.
Tinubu’s letter further reduces the anxiety and suspense surrounding his ministerial nomination list.
The source further said: “What I can tell you is that the list is here now. On the content of the envelope, only the Senate President can open it and as such I can’t speculate about the nominees.”
The ministerial list is expected by many Nigerian political pundits and public affairs commentators to include some opposition party members, who were instrumental to the victory of Tinubu at the presidential polls.
The Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G-5 governors, led by former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, were instrumental to dethroning presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar among others namely Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, is also highly tipped for a place in Tinubu’s cabinet.
Prominent states which gave President Tinubu is Kano State. Former governors of the state, Kwankwaso of NNPP and his successor, Abdulahi Ganduje of the APC, will be nominees representing both Kano and the Northwest zone in the cabinet.
