President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly submitted a ministerial nominees list to the Senate this morning.
A source who spoke to ENigeria Newspaper revealed that the ministerial nominees list which contains names of former governors, and ex-ministers in past administrations, is a blend of politicians and technocrats, hence reflecting federal character.
You would recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated his desire to run a government of national unity and competence upon the assumption of office on May 29, 2023.
Among those who made the list are former Kaduna and Rivers States governors, Nyesom Wike and Nasir El-Rufai and medical scholar, Ali Pate among others.
Tinubu’s Ministerial Miniterial Nominees List Who Gets What
ENigeria Newspaper reports that other names that appeared in Tinubu’s Ministerial nominees list include legal luminary Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); an economist Olawale Edun, banker Adebayo Adelabu, former Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Mrs. Betta Edu, Senator Ben Ayade and journalist Dele Alake, who is currently the Special Adviser on Media, Strategy and Special Duties.
According to a source within the Senate, the President forwarded the nominees list to Senate President Godswill Akpabio this morning, in line with the constitutional provision that the list should get to the National Assembly within 60 days after the presidential inauguration.
This newspaper understands that the ministerial nominees list was drawn following wider consultations with members of the ruling APC National Caucus, the Progressive Governors’ Forum, other top party leaders, and relevant stakeholders in a manner that would reflect the President’s mantra of ‘Renewed Hope’.
For instance, Ali Pate is a Harvard professor of medicine, a former Minister of State (Health) in the defunct Jonathan Administration. A source said he is likely to hold the health portfolio.
Wike, lawyer, former Minister of State for Education, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, was the leader of the aggrieved G-5, which opposed the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 2023 presidential election.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), headed the APC Panel on Restructuring. According to the source, he may be assigned to the Power Ministry.
Lateef Fagbemi, who hails from Ijagbo, Kwara State, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and is likely to be named the next Attorney General of the Federation.
Edun, a one-time Lagos Finance Commissioner, is currently a Special Adviser to the President on Monetary Policy and is likely to be named Central Bank Governor.
Gboyega Oyetola, a financial expert, was governor of Osun State between 2018 and 2022 – likely to be named Minister of Finance.
The APC Women Leader, Dr. Edu, is a former Health Commissioner in Cross Rivers State.
Ayade, a professor of microbiology, has served as Senator before he became governor.
The nominee from Oyo State, Adelabu, retired as Central Bank Deputy Governor. In the last general election, he contested for governor on the platform of the Accord Party.
During his 60th birthday in Abuja two days ago, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele hinted that the President would forward the nominee’s list to the Senate in the next 48 hours.
Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central District in the Senate, also said President Tinubu has not attended any public event since Monday because he was putting the finishing touches to the list.
The Senate Leader urged Nigerians to pray for the President over the task.
Also, last week, the Senate postponed its recess to enable senators to receive the list and screen the nominees.
According to the source, the screening of nominees is likely to be held next week.
