By Nicholas Ojo
The Senate will receive the ministerial nominees from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu this week, barely 18 days to the expiration of the provision by 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended.
Recalled that A 60-day window for nomination of nominees for ministerial positions by the president after assumption of office was added to provisions of the 1999 Constitution through amendment to that effect by the 9th National Assembly.
The provision was concurred to by 27 out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari March this year.
The interpretation of this provision specifically states that “a President or Governor, must forward list of nominees for ministerial or commissioners’ positions, within 60 days of his or her assumption of office,” President Tinubu has just 18 days more to do that.
Specifically, the 60-day window given for nominations of the would-be ministers at the federal level by the president and commissioners by Governors who took oath of office on the 29th of May, 2023, expires Friday, 28th July, 2023.
However, StarNews gathered that in keeping to the deadline, President Tinubu will forward the list of his ministerial nominees to the red chamber this week immediately after the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives meeting in Abuja, today.
Reliable source at National Assembly close to this medium who craved anonymity revealed that the Red Chamber will receive the list of ministerial nominees this week for thorough dissection for Senate screening and confirmation next and upper weeks.
According to the source, the presidential communication on the request (screening of service chiefs) got to the Senate last week Wednesday but not read during plenary Thursday due to the unavoidable absence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“It was read in the House of Representatives in plenary last week Thursday, will be read in the Senate Tuesday, this week and immediately considered for expeditious approval ahead of ministerial screening, confirmation and approval, next and upper weeks ” he said.
The source added that the factor of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, as the Chief of Staff to the President now, will play out in getting list of ministerial nominees to the Senate this week for two purposes of acting within the law and respecting the legislative calendar in the National Assembly.
“As 28th of this month is the last day provided for by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for submission of list of ministerial nominees to the Senate , 27th of this month, is also being looked at by both Chambers for commencement of long vacation.
“Therefore, aside the two Senior Special Assistants to the President on National Assembly Matters (both Senate and House of Representatives), the Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, will also guide the President aright, as far as the required communication on ministerial nominees is concerned,” the added
The StarNews had reliably gathered on Monday that the National Caucus meeting of the ruling party will also play key role in the final submission of the ministrial list to the National Assembly though the names have already been screened by the secret police operatives.
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