President Tinubu’s ministerial nominees undergo final screening

The anticipation surrounding the ministerial nominees in President Bola Tinubu‘s administration is reaching a crescendo, as the final stages of security checks are underway.

A highly reliable source within the Presidency informed TopNaija.ng of the progress, without disclosing the number or names of the individuals being considered for ministerial roles. The Department of State Services, in collaboration with the Presidential Strategic Team, is diligently conducting comprehensive background verifications on the potential candidates.

If the Tinubu administration proceeds with the appointment of ministers of state, a total of 44 names will be submitted to the 10th Senate for screening and subsequent approval. Recent reports revealed a flurry of political activities as politicians flocked to the President’s private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, during the Eid-el-Kabir holidays, vying for coveted ministerial positions.

Insiders revealed that Tinubu’s ministerial list is nearing completion. While he has personally selected a core group of ministers in consultation with his trusted kitchen cabinet of special advisers, fierce competition prevails for the remaining positions. A political slugfest has ensued among aspiring candidates, as they vie for a place in the distinguished lineup.

Earlier, in March, the then Special Adviser to the President-elect, Dele Alake, had stated that Tinubu would assemble his cabinet within one month of assuming office. Alake emphasized that this timeline was in line with the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, which requires presidents-elect and governors-elect to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office.

Fresh indications suggest that the President may send the list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly this week, following the legislators’ return from the Sallah break. The adjournment of legislative activities by the 10th Senate and House of Representatives until July 4 allowed speculation to intensify regarding the composition of the ministerial list. Tinubu has maintained a veil of secrecy around the names, keeping even his closest allies in suspense.

Rumors circulated last week that some APC governors might be granted the privilege to nominate more than one individual as ministerial nominees, subject to the President’s approval. Sources suggest that the ministerial list may be submitted to the Senate for confirmation this week, with the cabinet expected to be in place later this month.

Addressing the mounting anxiety, former campaign coordinator Dr. Ene Ogbole revealed that she had reliable information confirming the President’s intent to forward the ministerial nominees list for Senate screening promptly after the legislators’ return from recess. Ogbole urged Nigerians not to exert excessive pressure on Tinubu, as he still has 30 days within which to unveil his cabinet, as stipulated by the newly signed law mandating him to do so within 60 days of assuming office.

Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s Director of Publicity, echoed Ogbole’s sentiments, requesting that Nigerians give the President some leeway. Ibrahim expressed confidence that Tinubu, unlike his predecessor, does not require the full 60 days to announce his team, emphasizing the President’s calm demeanor and lack of apparent pressure. He reassured the public that the ministerial list would likely be unveiled after the Sallah break, as the President still has ample time to carefully select his team.