Why Buhari Ministers May Not Get Portfolios Soon

Nigerians who expect President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute his cabinet following the confirmation of his ministers by the Senate may have to wait longer.

There are indications that the 43 ministers designate who were all screened and confirmed by the Senate between Wednesday, July 24, and Tuesday July 30,2019, may not get ministerial portfolios until after August 16.

An indication of this was contained in a notice by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on the timeline of activities likely to precede the President Buhari’s assignment of portfolios to the ministers designate.

In the notice issued on Friday, Mustapha revealed that his office would commence the collection of relevant documents such as CVs and valid means of identification for documentation of the ministers designate on Tuesday, July 6.

The SGF also revealed in the notice that President Buhari had approved an “induction retreat” for all the ministers designate “to be held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja from August 15-16, 2019.”

The notice reads: “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.

“For further clarification, please contact the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, OSGF on 08023229481.

“Wishing you a Happy Sallah and looking forward to seeing you at the Retreat.”