Buhari to submit list of ministers to NASS next week

President Mohammadu Buhari is set to unveil list of his Ministers next week baring any unforeseen circumstances that may prevent it, Vanguard gathered yesterday.

Two of those expected to make the new list of Ministers are the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fasola who may be appointed the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.

Similarly, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau (retd) may also come in for a very sensitive security appointment.

It will be recalled that Dambazau headed the Security and Intelligence Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council just as Fayemi also headed that of Policy, Research and Strategy.

The list may also be sent to the National Assembly which had formally resumed duties following its inauguration on Tuesday. A source from Buhari’s political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC told Vanguard that the president had had to delay the list because the 8th parliament was yet to come on stream.

However, the list, Saturday Vanguard gathered, would be received by the Clerk of the National Assembly on behalf of  the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki who would then make it available for screening immediately the senate resumes.

It will be recalled that the two chambers of the federal legislature adjourned on Wednesday to resume plenary on June 23.

One of the reasons for the two weeks break was to enable the authorities of the National Assembly to allocate offices for the newly elected lawmakers.

Apart from the Ministerial appointments, the president it was learnt would also make some others necessary appointments. This would include appointment into the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation.

Meanwhile, Saturday Vanguard gathered that the size of the Ministers may not exceed the constitutional stipulation of 36 which would see each of the 36 States of the federation producing one minister.

In any case, a source around the president said that some ministries may be merged as a way of improving efficiency, focus and reducing the cost of governance.

It was learnt that Buhari was so keen in assembling a team of technocrats who have proven integrity to work with.

The source however said that president Buhari is under pressure to accommodate his party’s interest to compensate some politicians who worked for the victory of APC at the last general elections.

But it was learnt that the president may not bow to such pressure.

According to him, what was still uppermost in the mind of the president is to ensure that before the first 100 days in office, security of the country would have been improved.

“President Buhari is so keen in solving the security problem of Nigeria by stamping out Boko Haram. If you recall since he assumed office, he has not relented. He has travelled to the Neigbouring Niger and Chad. He also attended the G7 meeting in Berlin, Germany.

“In all of those meetings, the security of this country was topmost. I can assure you that soon Nigerians would heave a big sigh of relief. These efforts would yield positive result. The president knows what he is doing. He equally knows that the first 100 days are very crucial and he is committed to making Nigerians proud of their country. The only thing he needs from Nigerians is their patience.

“On the ministerial list, he wants to get his acts right. With the inauguration of the National Assembly, the list can be sent to the senate for screening. I can also assure you that Nigerians would appreciate the quality of people that will make the list”, the source said.