•President may submit list to NASS next week
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 Nationhas 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 realised 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."
—TheNation
No comments:
Post a Comment