List of ministers ready

Senator Ita Enang

The list of ministers to be appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari is ready.

The Senate may get a letter from the President requesting the confirmation of the nominees on Tuesday or Wednesday.

It will be recalled that Buhari who was inaugurated as President on May 29 had promised to name members of his cabinet in September.

He had at different times said he was in search of Nigerians with integrity to be part of his team that would reposition the country.

There has been anxiety that the President may not be able to meet the September deadline as he was quoted recently as saying that the month was running to an end too fast for his liking.

Indications have however emerged that Buhari, who is currently attending the 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York, had concluded work on the list.

The list may be presented to the Senate before October 1.

While reacting to an online report that Buhari had sent one of his National Assembly Liaison Officers, Senator Ita Enang, back to Nigeria with the list meant for the Senate, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, told reporters in New York on Monday that he would not be surprised if the list was ready.

He said it was within the timeline given by the President himself.

“I will not be surprised if the list is ready because it is within the timeline that the President gave. He said he would name his cabinet in September. Today (Monday) is September 28, so if it happens that it is ready, it is within the timeline,” Adesina said.

When asked to give an insight into the number of nominees on the list, the presidential spokesman simply said, “The constitution already gives you an idea of the number of people that can be on the cabinet because it stipulates that we must have at least one minister per state.”

A top Presidency source however told our correspondent that the President did not necessarily have to send Enang back to Nigeria to submit the list since he (the President) himself and his delegation are due back in the country on Tuesday.

“Senator Ita Enang is billed to return to Nigeria today. The President does not have to send him back because of the list. The truth is that the list will be given to the Senate either on Tuesday or Wednesday,” the official said.

PUNCH