Just in: SFG to Business Hilights story: Technocrats-filled ministerial list getting ready
Less than 10 hours after Business Hilights published a research based story captioned; ‘Nigeria: Standstill As FG Misses Five FEC Meetings Since Inauguration,’ https://businesshilights.com.ng/nigeria-standstill-as-fg-misses-five-fec-meetings-since-inauguration/, the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG), Mr. Boss Mustapha, has responded in a terse statement, saying “The Presidency is working on the ministerial list that will be sent to the National Assembly as soon as possible”.
He said government is aware of the need to form cabinet and it is taking the necessary steps in doing that so as to form a team that will be more of technocrats in driving the nation to success.
Though the statement did not give any specific date, there had been speculations that the list of ministers may be ready for transmission to the Senate on or before July 2, 2019.
Business Hilights had today, reported in the story published under Public Administration category, that “Counting from Wednesday, May 29, 2019, today, Wednesday, June 26, 2019 marks the fifth Wednesday, in which the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting cannot hold because the ministers that are expected to seat down and review happenstances in the country ranging from economy to security, budget, education, and so many other critical issues of national importance that keep the economy alive are yet to be appointed and cleared by National Assembly”.
“Considering provisions of existing administrative rule of engagements, there are lots of pending memos that are in need of ministerial approvals which cannot be handled by Permanent Secretaries in ministries.
“There are series of hanging Federal Government contracts that need one or two reviews or even release of funds for actions. All these are hanging on waiting for the appointment of ministers.
“Analysts say as the pile of works for yet to be named new ministers gathers dusts, the economy is slipping gradually into another recession.
Recall that the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had on Monday, said the President will form his cabinet faster than he did in 2015.
Recall that President Buhari had in 2015 nominated ministers in October and inaugurated them on November 11, earning him the nickname, ‘Baba go slow’.
However, Adesina responded in The Interview magazine, saying “the circumstances today were different and that Nigerians would not have to wait too long before for the President’s ministers.
“How much longer will Nigerians wait before the President announces his cabinet? Nigerians will not have to wait a day longer than necessary before they have a cabinet.
“And as the President himself has said the process won’t take as long as it did in 2015, because the circumstances are not the same,” Adesina averred.
