Ministerial List: ‘We Will Meet Deadline’ – Tinunu’s Aide Confirms

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has expressed optimism that the much anticipated ministerial list of President Bola Tinubu would meet today’s deadline.

Naija News reports that delaying the much-anticipated list has caused anxiety among several Nigerians and political actors.

Recall that Tinubu, who was inaugurated on May 29, has till Thursday, July 27, to submit the list to the Senate in line with section 42(a) of the constitution, which states that “The nomination of any person to the office of a minister for confirmation by the Senate shall be done within sixty days after the date the president has taken the oath of office.”

However, despite speculation that the President might not meet the deadline, sources have continued to confirm the readiness of the list.

According to Abdulaziz, he was optimistic the ministerial list would be forwarded to Senate before the deadline.

Abdulaziz told Daily Trust that the President would meet the impending deadline as spelled out by the constitutional provisions.

He said, “It’s on course. We will meet the deadline.”

Meanwhile, this platform understands that the much anticipated ministerial nominees list of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will have the names of former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike and eminent medical scholar Ali Pate.

A Senate source revealed that President Tinubu finally sent the list to Senate President Godswill Akpabio this morning, in line with the constitutional provision that the list should get to the National Assembly within 60 days after the presidential inauguration.

The list, which is a blend of politicians and technocrats, includes legal luminary Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); an economist Olawale Edun; banker Adebayo Adelabu, former Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Betta Edu, Senator Ben Ayade and Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media, Strategy and Special Duties, Dele Alake.

Speaking to The Nation, the source, who could not also confirm the number of nominees, said the list reflected the national character and outlook of the President and the ruling party.