President Muhammadu Buhari declares that he will no longer nominate people not personally known by him for ministerial roles.
In a maiden meeting with the National Assembly leadership, Mr. Buhari also said that the ministerial list will be made only by those tested and able to deliver on allocated mandates.
Mr. Buhari said he was under intense pressure to constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa’s new banquet hall, Abuja, on Thursday night.
However, despite the pressure, he said that only those with track records would be appointed with honesty and credibility.
“Many at this dinner meeting are saying they want to see the list of the proposed cabinet so that they can go on leave peacefully.
“I’m very much aware about it; I’m under tremendous pressure on it. But the last cabinet which I headed, most of them, the majority of them I didn’t know them. I had to accept the names and recommendations from the party and other individuals.
“I worked with them for three and half years at least – meeting twice or two weeks in a month. So I know them.
“But, this time around I’m going to be quiet me – me in the sense that I will pick people I personally know,’’ he said.
Therefore, he asked the lawmakers to partner with the executive arm to leave the nation with excellent legacies as his administration was on its last lap.
The president warned the National Assembly to prevent comparing their parliamentary processes with those of developed democracies like the United States and the United Kingdom at all times.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who spoke after the meeting to State House correspondents, refuted media report citing him as stating that this week President Buhari will present the ministerial list to the Senate.
He said: “Let me take the opportunity to correct that. A senator raised a point of order under personal explanation.
“He said we should be sent the list of the ministers by the executive arm of government and in my response I said the executive is working so hard to ensure that the list of Nigerians that will help this administration work is going to be transmitted and we could even receive it this week.
“We could’ is conditional and I will urge everybody here to report it as it is,” he said.
The Nigeria News Agency (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Age ; House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase.
The meeting was also attended by the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other presidential aides.(NAN)