A media report has revealed that President Bola Tinubu might consider security reports and corruption allegations as criteria for appointing new ministers.
Recall that Tinubu recently sent the list of ministerial nominees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies.
The agencies are to check on individuals pencilled down on the list before Senate’s confirmation.
The DSS and members of the Presidential Strategic Team were running final checks on the people who had been listed as possible ministers.
The Nigerian constitution demands that the President announces his ministerial appointments within sixty days of assuming office and transmits the list to the Senate for confirmation.
Meanwhile, top sources said their clearance might not indicate they would make the list when the nominees are presented to the Senate for screening.
The President was said to have been inundated with the names of politicians, associates, party bigwigs, professionals, and others, who showed interest in being part of his government.
One of the sources said, “While the President is keeping his cards to his chest, there are former governors, especially those that finished their tenure on May 29, who are showing interest in becoming ministers.
“Also, as expected, there are political bigwigs, traditional rulers, captains of industries, and those in the Diaspora. But instead of waiting to compile the list, the President was sending them to the security agencies piecemeal for clearance.
“That was why the Presidency was correct when it said there was no ministerial list anywhere.”
Recall that the presidential spokesman, Mr Dele Alake, recently said Tinubu’s ministerial list was not ready.
