The Senate last week confirmed 45 Nigerians as members of the Federal Executive Council.
They are part of the 48-man list submitted to the red chamber of the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
All eyes are now on the ministers-designate, expectations are high that with them, the country would be lifted out of its present economic quagmire.
According to some stakeholders, the current economic situation birthed by the removal of fuel subsidy would be minimised when all members of Tinubu’s cabinets assume their various offices.
Recall that the President who took over the mantle of leadership from the former president, Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, has piloted the affairs of the nation nearly three months without a cabinet.
Tinubu, after 57 days in office, transmitted a list containing the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees to the Senate on July 27. The second batch containing 19 names was forwarded to the upper chamber on August 2.
Amid controversies that shrouded the screening of some of the nominees, the senate on August 7 announced the confirmation of 45 out of the 48 nominees.
A former senatorial aspirant in Benue Zone B, Iorfa Thomas told journalists on Saturday that when the ministers assume duty after they have been assigned their various portfolios, the current economic situation may be reduced.
He said, “Governance is not just about one or two persons. Tinubu and his aides can’t do the jobs alone. No matter how good they are, they cannot be everywhere at the same time.
“If the portfolios are assigned based on expertise and not just to favour some group of persons, then we should be expecting changes in the current situation.
“I am optimistic that the party nominated those that have the capacity to handle the various ministries. So if they all assume their various offices and start working, definitely there will be changes.
“We really need to be patient with the government right now. Tinubu has done well by beating the 60 days deadline and this is why his administration is expected to be different”.
However, there are concerns particularly from the opposition parties that the nomination was allegedly aimed at rewarding some bigwigs in the party who may have worked for the victory of the President in the February election.
The ministerial list contained at least nine former governors from different states across the nation, former ministers and lawmakers who were part of the presidential campaign.
Speaking on this, a chieftain of the Labour Party and the Chief spokesperson for the defunct Obi/Datty Presidential Campaign Organization, Dr Yunusa Salisu Tanko declared that there is nothing good about the process of the ministerial nomination.
According to him, “What do you expect from an administration that rigged its way to power? The entire administration is faulty, and this is why we are challenging it.
“Our case in court should tell Nigerians that we don’t even trust the government in the first place. If the government is bad and we are challenging it, then is it the ministers that you think will be good?”
Meanwhile, recall that the lawmakers failed to confirm three of the nominees.
It was gathered that former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Senator Abubakar Danladi and the nominee from Delta State, Stella Okotete were unable to scale the hurdle of screening over security reasons.
While it is yet unclear what would be the fate of the three nominees, DAILY POST gathered that El-Rufai who was expected to head the power sector, has jettisoned the ministerial ambition.
A source conversant with the development said the former governor has informed the President that he is no longer interested in the ministerial slot.
The APC chieftain, who chose not to be mentioned, said El-Rufai made his stance known to the president during their Tuesday meeting in the State House, Abuja.
“He had wanted to leave the country to rest abroad after he completed his eight years in office in May this year. Tinubu begged him to join the cabinet. It took El-Rufai some weeks to agree to serve in this administration.
“I’m beginning to believe that we Nigerians don’t like progress. There are some elements in Aso Rock who are plotting against El-Rufai and it’s all because of the 2027 election.
“Some of them don’t trust E-Rufai and that is just the truth. They feel threatened. They think he will plot against Tinubu and support Shettima, his fellow northerner in 2027, which I don’t think is possible.
“El-Rufai had commenced an investigation to know why Nigerians are not able to have constant electricity after so many years. He was ready to transform the power sector which is the bedrock of economic growth.
“He had previously done well at the federal level. The Federal Capital Territory is one of the best cities in Africa today all because of E-Rufai but ethnicity won’t allow some people to reason in this direction,” he said.
Starnews reports that indication emerged on Saturday that El-Rufai may have jetted out of the country.
It was learnt that the former governor, who is off to the United Kingdom, vowed to steer clear from Nigerian politics while enjoying his rest.
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