As expectations grow over announcement of the names of the ministry nominees during plenary this week, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Tinubu have met in Aso Rock.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, the National Assembly’s two chambers hold plenary sessions.
Two months after his inauguration, there has been significant uproar over Tinubu’s failure to form his cabinet.
A new addition to the 1999 Constitution mandates that within 60 days of taking the oath of office, the President and governors must submit the names of those nominated as ministers or commissioners for confirmation by the Senate or the respective state Houses of Assembly.
This implies that before the end of this month, Tinubu and the 28 governors must submit the lists of candidates for ministries and commissioners.
The President has till this week to announce his nominees for ministers.
The letter with the names of the nominees reached the Senate President last week, according to sources at the National Assembly.
But according to the sources, the delay in reading out the names was caused by a few last-minute changes that were made to the list.
One of the sources said: “The Senate President got the ministerial list last week, but it was not yet time for him to unveil it, hence the reason it was kept.
“Most importantly, there were some last-minute adjustments. The Senate President had a meeting with President Tinubu over the list last week.”
Another source noted that the administration had been trying its best to avoid backlash hence, the reason why the list could not be delayed.
The lawmaker noted that the names would be read out this week, but could not tell when exactly.
The source said: “The names of the ministerial nominees will be out this week.
“The Asiwaju-led administration has been trying its best to avoid a backlash even though it is unavoidable. The names will be unveiled this week; that is all I can say.”
Another source noted that the names would be unveiled this week and many people would be shocked.
The source noted that the delay was deliberate because of intense lobbying, but the details of the list would shock a lot of Nigerians.
The source added: “The list of the nominees will be unveiled this week and I can tell you that the details will shock a lot of Nigerians. I mean a lot of big politicians will be thrown aback.
“This will be the real Asiwaju Tsunami.”
Concerning how the screening of the nominees will go, a ranking senator noted that there was not too much to the screening of ministers as it could be done within three days or one week.
The source stated: “There is no big deal about the screening of ministers. The ministers can be screened in three days or one week.
“Even if we have to call special or emergency sessions after the plenary has closed for this session, we will.
“But I know the list will be read out this week.”