There are indications that Nigerians may have to wait a bit more before portfolios will be assigned to the 43 ministers-designate.
The last set of ministers-designate were cleared on Monday following the Senate’s decision to wave part of their annul leave which ought to have begun last week ago.
All 43 nominees were cleared in a mixture of real confirmation hearing, deference to legislative experience and various sentiments. For instance, the seven women nominees enjoyed the privilege of what is now widely known as “bow and go”.
A statement Friday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha all but confirmed the delayed inauguration of the ministers-designate.
According to the SGF, “Following confirmation by the Senate, all ministers-designate are by this notice informed that relevant documents for their study and guidance, preparatory to the inauguration of the Cabinet shall be available for collection at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) (Cabinet Affairs Office) from 10.00am on Tuesday August 6, 2019.
“Ministers Designate are also requested to please bring along and submit to the OSGF, their updated CV in soft and hard copies as well as any valid identification document.
“Finally, I am pleased to inform you that, in view of the need to allow Ministers-Designate enough time to study the documents (Status Report on Policies, Programmes and Projects; the 2019-2023 Road Map, FEC Handbook, etc) and considering the upcoming Sallah break, His Excellency, Mr. President has approved an INDUCTION RETREAT for Ministers-Designate to be held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, from August 15-16, 2019.”
By mid-August, it will be nearly three months short of the inauguration of the President’s first cabinet, just as it will be a few days shy of three months since the President was sworn-in for a second term in office.
Buhari has been criticised for delaying ministerial picks while the nation is in need of some urgency.
