Nigerians have demanded economic growth as President Bola Tinubu is expected to submit the much-awaited ministerial list to the National Assembly in the next 24 hours for screening.
A presidential aide, who demanded anonymity in a chat with the newsmen, on Tuesday, said the President stretched the submission of the list to the last days to ensure that the list was inclusive and reflective of what was best for the country.
The list, which is expected to be a mixture of technocrats and tested politicians, the source revealed, would have more technocrats who would help drive the President’s Renewed Hope agenda for the next four years.
The Fifth Amendment to the 1999 Constitution mandates the president and governors to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner-nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly.
Tinubu, who was sworn in as President on May 29, has to submit his ministerial list to the Senate before July 29 as stipulated by law.
Speaking against the backdrop of the constitutional deadline, the presidential aide said,
“President Bola Tinubu will transmit the ministerial list to the National Assembly tomorrow (today). He has stretched the transmission of the list to the federal lawmakers to ensure that he gets it right. One thing is certain, the list is going to be a mixture of technocrats and tested politicians.
“The President has made it clear that his decisions for the next four years, starting with the ministerial list, would be guided by what is right for Nigeria and not political considerations.”
When pressed for the names on the list, another aide, who did not want his name mentioned, said,
“One thing we have been told is that the ministerial list is something the Commander-in-Chief is keeping close to his chest.”
However, in the last few weeks, various names had been bandied around as possible ministerial nominees, including former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; ex-Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Wale Edun; the Special Adviser, Monetary Policies and a host of technocrats and politicians.