Security agencies busy vetting Tinubu's list of potential ministers with details expected this week

SECURITY agencies are currently vetting the list of President Bola Tinubu's ministerial nominees ahead of an impending announcement due over the next fortnight when the list will be forwarded to the National assembly for vetting.

President Tinubu, who is currently enjoying the Sallah holidays in Lagos, is expected to return to Abuja tomorrow. One presidency source said that he spent his time in Lagos compiling his list of ministers and now, the Department of State Services and members of the Presidential Strategic Team are running final checks on those listed as possible ministers.

“They have the list already and several names have been written against their respective offices but they just have to do some checks on a few of these names. That’s what is delaying the list. They are being very strategic with this,” the source said.

Apparently, 44 names are expected to be sent to the 10th senate for screening and eventual approval by next week. In March, the then special adviser to the president-elect, Dele Alake, had said President Tinubu would constitute his cabinet within one month of assuming office in line with the fifth amendment to the constitution which mandated him to do so within 60 days of taking office.

Mr Alake said:  “I told you in an earlier interview that it didn’t take Asiwaju more than three weeks to form his cabinet as a governor. That was as at that time and I think 60 days is even too much. A month, maximum, is enough for any serious government to form its cabinet and put the structure of government in place after the swearing-in.”

Speculations on who will make the ministerial list has generated heated debates and growing anxiety among Tinubu’s campaign members and party loyalists since he assumed office on May 29. However, the president has, kept everyone guessing as he has clutched the list tightly to his chest and away from even closest allies.

Speculations were rife last week that some APC governors might be granted the liberty to nominate more than one person as ministerial nominees with the consent of the president. According to one source, there is a likelihood that the ministerial list may be submitted to the senate for confirmation this week and for the cabinet to be in place later this month.