Anxiety Over Tinubu’s Ministerial List Mounts As Top APC Bigwigs Jostle For Juicy Positions

As President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja, yesterday, after sundry engagements, following his official trip to France and thereafter, London, Lagos and Ogun states, there is growing anxiety that the President is set to announce members of his cabinet within days.

Many key political lobbyists, including former governors and members of the National Assembly, had besieged his base in Paris, where he had gone to join world leaders on the consensus for redesigning a global financial architecture, which will favour poverty reduction, debt restructuring or cancellation, and more consideration for vulnerable countries affected by climate change and COVID-19.

The President was accompanied to the summit by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials.

Multiple sources in Tinubu’s entourage abroad confirmed that the desperate lobbyists went ahead of the President to France to intensify their moves in expectation of securing his attention.

Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to return to Abuja after the forum, proceeded to London on a short, but private visit. He received a tumultuous welcome from a massive crowd of Nigerians upon his return to Lagos, following the seven-day trip abroad. The President had returned to Lagos for the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

As Tinubu’s convoy made its way from Ikeja to his private residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagosians lined the road from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), enthusiastically waving and expressing their joy.

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Meanwhile, the Constitution provides for one minister per state, meaning there is room for 36 ministers (minister and minister of state).

Many Nigerians had expected that on his assumption of office, on May 29 the President would, without delay, submit his list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for consideration and subsequent clearance for appointment.

Tinubu was announced as winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election. He was sworn-in as President on May 29, a development which kick started intense lobbying by close associates and other political allies, especially members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from all the six geopolitical zones of the country.

However, there are speculations that President Tinubu would likely forward the list to the Senate for confirmation, with ministers emerging before the end of July.

Inauguration of the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 13 had set the stage for the parliament to begin the process that would culminate in formation of Tinubu’s cabinet and hasten governance.

Tinubu had earlier released a list of eight Special Advisers. He had previously secured the approval of 12 Special Advisers from the Senate.

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The Special Advisers are also part of the federal cabinet, but ministers are senior members of the cabinet and are ranked higher in the hierarchy by virtue of the control they have over Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
(The Guardian excluding headline)