By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has submitted a list of 28 names to lawmakers for approval as ministers in his cabinet.
The move is coming within the constitutionally allowed two months for the President to nominate persons he intends to work in his administration as ministers.
The list of names was read by the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, on the floor of the upper chamber of the National Assembly on Thursday during a plenary session.
Some of the names on the list include former state governors and political allies of the President, including those of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, of Ebonyi State, Mr Dave Umahi; and former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai.
The presidential spokesman, Mr Dele Alake, also made the list as he could become the Minister of Information, while his special adviser on monetary policy, Mr Wale Edun, was also considered and has been tipped to be the next Minister of Finance.
Mr Tinubu, like his predecessor, failed to assign portfolios to his nominees for proper screening, the inclusion of the former Gavi CEO, Mr Mohammad Ali Pate, in the list after he quit his position in June is suggesting he could be appointed as the Minister of Health.
A former deputy government of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Adebayo Adelabu, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made the final cut.
At about 1 pm, the Chief of Staff to the President and the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, presented Mr Tinubu’s ministerial list before the Senate.
Mr Akpabio said additional nominations would be sent to the Senate in due course and thereafter read the ministerial list of 28 persons.
The joint house will deliberate on the names and screen them for approval before confirming them.
The full list of Tinubu’s ministerial list:
1. Abubakar Momoh
2. Yusuf Maitama Tukur
3. Mohammed Dangiwa
4. Hanatu Musawa
5. Uche Nnaji
6. Betta Edu
7. Doris Uzoka
8. David Umahi
9.Nyesom Wike
10. Mohamed Badaru
11. Nasir El-Rufai
12. Ekperikpe Ekpo
13. Nkiru Onyejiocha
14. Olubunmi Ojo
15. Stella Okotete
16. Uju Ohaneye
17. Bello Mohammed Goroyo
18. Dele Alake
19. Lateef Fagbemi
20. Mohammed Idris
21. Olawale Edun
22. Wahid Adelabu
23. Imma Ibrahim
24. Muhammad Ali Pate
25. Joseph Utsev
26. Abubakar Kyari
27. John Enoh
28. Sani Abubakar Danladi.
Modupe Gbadeyanka