The Senate is set to begin screening ministerial nominees, including notable figures such as El-Rufai and Wike, on Monday, following their nomination by President Bola Tinubu. The screening’s commencement is amidst speculation that the President plans to form his full cabinet and introduce new ministries within the next two weeks.
Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate spokesperson, informed that all other Senate activities have been put on hold for the imminent screening. Originally set to proceed on vacation, the Upper Chamber has instead decided to focus on the screening process.
The list of 28 nominees was delivered by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and presented to the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Among the distinguished nominees are former governors of Rivers State, Kaduna State, and Ebonyi State – Nyesom Wike, Nasir El-Rufai, and David Umahi, respectively. The list also includes the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abubakar Kyari, the party’s women leader Beta Edu, and several other notable figures.
As the Senate prepares for the screening, there’s an expectation that this process will be transparent, with nominees presenting their plans to the public and the Senate not limiting their time for the presentation. The opposition PDP has raised objections about Wike’s nomination and criticized Tinubu’s list of nominees. The National Assembly is also waiting for nominations from other states.
The complete list of ministerial nominees submitted by President Tinubu also includes Abubakar Momoh, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama, Ahmad Dangiwa, Hanatu Musawa, Chief Uche Nnaji, Doris Aniche, Mohamed Badaru, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Olubumi Tunde-Ojo, Stella Okotete, Uju Ohanaeye, Bello Goronyo, Mohammed Idris, Olawale Edun, Imman Suleiman, Joseph Utsev, and Sani Danladi.
Following the reading of the names, the Senate has passed the list to the Committee of the Whole for further examination. However, there are concerns as 11 states – Lagos, Kano, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun, Plateau, Yobe, and Zamfara – have not been represented in this 28-man list, contradicting the constitutional requirement for at least one minister from each of the 36 states. Bauchi, Cross River, and Katsina states, meanwhile, were awarded two slots each.
In other developments, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed that there are plans for new ministries and a further list of 13 ministerial nominees to be unveiled in the near future. This decision to not attach specific portfolios to the names gives the President the flexibility to assign roles based on the screening outcomes. Gbajabiamila expressed confidence in the ability of all nominees to perform in any ministry, except in the case of specialized positions like the Attorney-General.
The remaining 12 or 13 nominees are expected to be forwarded to the Senate in the coming days.
Gbajabiamila also disclosed that the new cabinet should be operational within the next two weeks. He expects the Senate to conduct a comprehensive review of the nominees, but also believes they’ll balance their thoroughness with an understanding of the urgency of the times.
However, the nomination process has not been without its critics. Timothy Osadolor, a significant member of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has voiced his objections.
Timothy Osadolor, a member of the PDP National Executive Committee, critiqued the ministerial list, describing the nominees as average individuals lacking the capacity to significantly impact the nation. Osadolor specifically highlighted the inclusion of Wike, stating that PDP members were not surprised by this choice. He alleged that Wike had worked against the PDP in the 2023 elections and questioned the potential contributions of the newly nominated individuals.
Osadolor stated, “Who on the list can you refer to as a goal-getter apart from maybe two or three? They are at best, an average collection of former this and former that. We honestly don’t know what they have to offer Nigerians.”
This view was contrasted by Johnson Ladipo, the spokesperson for the New Nigeria People’s Party in the 2023 presidential election. Ladipo encouraged Nigerians to give the nominees the benefit of the doubt, asserting that the President’s confidence in these individuals should instill optimism. He expressed his hope that the nominees, based on their experience, could inspire a positive future for Nigerians.
Johnson Ladipo, the spokesperson for the New Nigeria People’s Party, expressed the view that Nigerians should not hastily criticize the ministerial nominees. He pointed out that even if some of them underperformed in previous positions, their past experiences could guide them to improve.
Meanwhile, Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, stated that the party was indifferent to the President’s cabinet appointments. The party’s focus remains on contesting the government’s legitimacy in court, showing no interest in the alleged irregularities committed by the current administration.
Bala Ibrahim, the Director of Publicity of the All Progressives Congress, suggested it was premature to scrutinize the ministerial list, as it’s yet to be completed. Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction over the inclusion of two members of the APC National Working Committee.
Dipo Olayoku, the National Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, also remarked that it was too soon to comment, as the party was yet to meet to discuss the incomplete list.
In contrast, the Rivers State chapter of the PDP expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for nominating Nyesom Wike. The state Publicity Secretary, Sydney Gbara, commended Wike’s leadership skills and viewed his nomination as a positive development for the party.
While the APC in Rivers State, represented by Publicity Secretary Mr. Darlington Nwauju, refrained from giving an immediate response, a former presidential aspirant of the APC, Dr. Felix Nicolas, expressed disappointment at the absence of younger nominees on the list. However, he did commend the representation of women among the nominees.
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, extended well wishes to the nominees, hoping that the wait for the list would prove worthwhile. Speaking about one of the nominees, Pate, Dr. Ojinmah hoped that he would effectively navigate the complexities of the Nigerian health sector.
Gabriel Idahosa, the Deputy-President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described the list as a mix of technocrats and career politicians. He voiced concerns about political affiliations influencing appointments more than qualifications and advocated for sensitive ministries to be handled by technocrats.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Olusola Obadimu, urged the President to set time-framed targets for the appointees to ensure their performance aligns with the expectations of Nigerians. He stressed the importance of assigning tasks and measuring performance against set targets.
Olusola Obadimu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, insisted on having a system within the Presidency for consistent monitoring and performance reviews. He suggested quarterly meetings where each minister could present their progress towards their assigned goals.
Dr. Ikenna Nwaosu, a facilitator with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, pointed out that the President has constitutional rights to his nominations, and that a mix of politicians and technocrats should be expected. He emphasized that the National Assembly would be the final judge of their competence.
Public affairs analyst, Mr. Jide Ojo, argued that the nominees can deliver substantial results under the right conditions. He dismissed the idea that only technocrats should be nominated, suggesting that the term might be misunderstood by critics.
Meanwhile, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu promised a comprehensive screening process for the nominees, ensuring they have the character, behavior, and capability to help Nigeria move forward. Senator Victor Umeh reiterated this sentiment, expressing the Senate’s determination to approve ministers capable of advancing the nation.
While some senators, such as those representing Imo West and Edo South, are reserving judgment until the complete list of nominees is released, others like the senator representing Anambra Central assured that the nomination process is the President’s prerogative, and he would have seen value in his selections.
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