Read What Buhari’s Spokesman Said About Ministerial List

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity)
to President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the understanding of the
public as the President took time to form his cabinet.

Shehu had sought the patience of the public on Monday in Abuja while
fielding questions from newsmen on the issue.

He said the president must be left alone and given sufficient time to
select members of his cabinet.

"We are calling for the understanding of Nigerians in this regard as
any attempt to rush the process could result in disservice to the
administration and the country," he said.

According to him, the 8th National Assembly must be in place to
approve nomination list from the President, adding that the life span
of the 7th Assembly still lingered.

He said: "I have no idea, absolutely no idea, but it is not something
anybody will rush because you know that the National Assembly will
have to approve the president's nominees.

"The incoming 8th National Assembly must be given the opportunity to
fully participate in the process."

On why the President is still operating outside the presidential
villa, Shehu said renovation of the presidential lodge was ongoing.

"The contractors are working probably at their own pace, if I need to
know or if you need to know why, probably we have to talk to someone
there.

"At the moment, I am not saying the president is comfortable where he
is at a rented apartment, nevertheless, he is operating from there."

According to him, the president would move into the Presidential Villa
as soon as it is ready.

In another development, Gov. Abu Bello of Niger had promised to
improve the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through
investment promotion.

Bello said this in an interview with newsmen after a closed door
meeting with the president in Abuja.

"Once the minister of Trade and Investment swings into action, we
intend to promote a lot of investment in Niger State, especially in
the agriculture sector.

"And once industries come up, I believe our IGR will improve. We know
that there are some gaps that need to be filled to block wastage and
leakages.

"We are still studying the situation and hopefully in the next few
days we will have the situation reports ready," he said.

Bello said the focus would be to create jobs for the youths by
concentrating on agriculture, education and health sectors.

"We need to train a lot of our youths in these sectors, so hopefully
once that is achieved, it will reduce the level of unemployment in the
state and the country in general."
—pmnews