Ministerial appointments: Four days to deadline, Nigerians await Tinubu’s nominees
…As Senators, Reps prepare to embark on annual vacation
…Ministerial appointments key to maintaining investors’ confidence — Afrinvest MD
By Moses Adeniyi, Mathew Ibiyemi
Barely four days to the 60 days deadline set by law for the appointment of ministers by the President, Nigerians are yet to know the nominees of President Bola Tinubu for ministerial positions and their portfolio.
Although, reports have emerged that the President has submitted the list to the Senate, the upper chamber has not made public the list of the President and the former APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi had earlier stated that no list was yet to be compiled by the President.
By the new amendment to the 1999 Constitution, the President and Governors must submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or the respective State Houses of Assembly.
Consequently, this implies that Tinubu and 28 Governors who have just been sworn in, must submit the lists of nominees for ministers and commissioners before the end of Friday.
Today, Monday, makes it the 56th day after inauguration, implying both Tinubu and the 28 Governors have about four days to submit their nominees.
Friday will make it the 60th day for the deadline for submission.
Plenaries at both chambers of the National Assembly hold on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, implying the Senate may in one of the three days of the week make known persons enlisted for ministerial positions as submitted by the President.
At the State level, it is expected the various State Assemblies would follow suit to beat the deadline, not to run foul of the law.
The politics around ministerial appointments have been on top course since Tinubu returned from Paris, France, where he went for post election vacation. Since his return in June, the politicking around ministerial appointments as well as those of the leadership of the National Assembly has been on a top burner with intense lobbyings which have recorded series of meetings in closed doors.
However, more indications have emerged that the ministerial list may be unveiled this week between Tuesday and Thursday.
This is just as it was gathered the Senate may have to call for emergency sessions for screening of the nominees for ratification, as Thursday, this week, would be the last plenary before the lawmakers embark on their annual vacation.
This is just as it has been gathered both chambers of the National Assembly, will set up their remaining standing committees on Thursday.
Recall amidst wranglings, Akpabio had on July 11 named the chairmen and members of the special committees of the Senate.
In line with the Standing Orders 2022 as Amended, the Senate President had named members into the Selection Committee.
The composition, as he declared, had him as the Chairman with the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau as the Vice chairman and other principal officers of both majority and minority extraction.
Members of the Selection Committee are Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the Senate Majority leader; Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno), the Senate Chief Whip; Senator Dave Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South), the Deputy Leader and Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), the Deputy Whip.
Other members are Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North), the Senate-Minority Leader; Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central), the Minority Whip; Senator Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olarere, (PDP Osun West), the Deputy Minority Leader and Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central), the Deputy Minority Whip.
Akpabio had also named the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the other Special Committees of the Senate. Among the Chairmen are Senator Tutus Zam, APC (Benue North West); Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West); Senator Okechukwu Ezea, (LP, Enugu East); Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, SDP (Nasarawa West), and Senator Shehu Umar (APC, Bauchi South).
Also named were Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South); Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, (APC, Ekiti South) and Senator Olamilekan Adeola, (APC, Ogun West).
According to the portfolio, Senator Titus Zam was named as the Chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as vice chairman, while Senator Sunday Karimi was appointed Chairman, Committee on Senate Services with Senator Williams Jonah as vice Chairman.
Others are Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions with Senator Okechukwu Ezea as chairman and Khalid Mustapha as vice chairman.
Senator Ahmed Wadada was named as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Senator Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi as vice chairman.
Committee on National Security and Intelligence has Senator Shehu Umar as chairman with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong as vice chairman.
In addition, the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has Senator Garba Musa Maidoki as chairman and Senator Ede Dafinone as vice chairman.
The Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs has Senator Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael as chairman and Senator Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi as vice chairman.
Meanwhile, similarly it was gathered the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will name the committees of the lower chamber and their chairmen on Thursday before the vacation.
Recall that Abbas had two days after his emergence as Speaker announced the constitution of seven special committees.
While announcing the leadership and membership of the transition committees at the close of plenary last Thursday, Abbas had noted that they would be in place for a period of time until the proper committees are constituted.
The Speaker had explained that the ad hoc committees will assist in the running of the House until when proper committees will be constituted.
The committees include Internal Security headed by Mohammed Danjuma, Selection chaired by the Speaker himself, and Media led by Buka Ibrahim.
Others are the Legislative Agenda Committee chaired by Prof Julius Ihonbvare; Rules and Business Committee led by Igariwey Iduma; Welfare Committee headed by Wale Raji; and Ethics and Privileges Committee chaired by Tunji Olawuyi.
Ministerial appointments key to maintaining investors confidence – Afrinvest MD
Meanwhile the Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Ike Chioke has stated that the appointments of Ministers by President Tinubu is key to maintaining investors’ confidence.
According to him, the appointment of Ministers is essential for investors to identify the policy direction of the administration and follow through.
Speaking on the theme: “The Turning Point: Positioning for Optimal Return,” at an event Afrinvest hosted, Ike called on investors to position themselves for the opportunities in the economy, which had been magnified by ongoing reforms.
Chioke said the factors seen in both domestic and global economies showed that the country’s economy was at turning point for greatness.
