The Department of State Services has
commenced the screening of ministerial
nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu
Buhari, The PUNCH has learnt on Wednesday.
It was gathered that no fewer than 20
nominees had been vetted by the DSS
operatives since the exercise started.
The President was said to have sent to the
agency a total of 36 names of would be
ministers for security checks.
The identities of the nominees were top secret
as of Wednesday.
The President had indicated in a chat with
journalists in Accra, Ghana, on Monday that
he would keep his promise of announcing
names of his ministers this month.
Investigations showed that the screening
process by the DSS involved conducting
background checks on the careers of the
nominees and operatives were also checking
for records of the nominees with anti-graft
and security agencies.
One of our correspondents gathered that
people on the list included mainly those who
worked with Buhari when he was in the
military and during his stint as the chairman
of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund.
The DSS could not be reached for comment on
Wednesday as it had yet to appoint a
spokesperson.
‘Security screening not public’
When asked if the Presidency had directed
security agencies to vet ministerial nominees,
the Special Adviser (Media) to the President,
Femi Adesina, simply replied via a text
message, “Security screening is naturally a
behind-the-scenes matter, thanks.”
Top ranking members of the governing All
Progressives Congress have also refrained
from speaking about ministerial appointment
by Buhari.
One of the APC leaders, who asked not to be
named, said, “The truth is that the President is
someone who believes in due process.”
“His choice of Daura (Lawal Daura), a member
of the old guard, as the DG DSS should tell
you something; even those contacted for
screening know that any leak of information
traced to them could ruin their chances,” the
source added.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief
John Oyegun, has been out of Abuja for
almost one week.
Calls to his mobile phone indicated that it
was switched off.
Repeated calls to the mobile telephone
number of the National Publicity Secretary of
the APC, Mr. Lai Mohammed, were neither
picked nor returned as of the time of filing
this report.
The ministerial list is yet to be forwarded to
the Senate as it is still undergoing security
screening.
The President, in an interview he granted the
Hausa Service of the BBC on Tuesday, had
given a hint about what influenced the
appointments he had so far.
He had said, “If I choose people who I know
quite well in my political party, people whom
we came (together) all the way right from the
All Paeoples Party, Congress for Progressive
Change and the APC and we have remained
together through good and trying times, what
then is the reward for such dedication and
suffering? They did not defect because of
positions; they did not involve themselves in
the pursuit of personal gains.”
Such considerations are also likely to
influence his choice of ministers, sources
indicated.
It will be recalled that Buhari had in July said
his cabinet would be made known in
September.
The President, in an article published in
Washington Post on July 19, said it would
neither be prudent nor serve the interests of
sound judgment for him to have formed his
cabinet immediately he was inaugurated on
May 29.
He said it was necessary for the country to
first put new rules of conduct and good
governance in place before he could make
critical appointments into his government.
The article was published ahead of his historic
meeting with President Barack Obama of
United States in July.
He said it was noteworthy that Obama did not
have his full cabinet in place for several
months after first taking office.
He said the US did not cease to function in
the interim despite that delay.
“When cabinet ministers are appointed in
September, it will be some months after I took
the oath of office. It is worth noting that
Obama himself did not have his full cabinet in
place for several months after first taking
office; the United States did not cease to
function in the interim,” he had said. http://www.punchng.com/news/dss-screens-buharis-ministerial-nominees/

The almighty list!!!

I'm scared
Pls don't remove my name
I'm not corrupt anywayz

At long last, the list is almost out

Small minds

nice move

The wailing wailers should please wail very well.
God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.

I don't know those on the list but I sure those who will not make it!

we are waiting