Focus shifts to Tinubu’s cabinet as Akpabio emerges Senate president

With Godswill Akpabio emerging as Nigeria’s senate president Tuesday, attention is gradually turning to the next big test for President Bola Tinubu- who makes his cabinet.

All that was standing in the way of announcing his much-anticipated team of ministers was the formation of the 10th senate and with that over the line, there are expectations that Tinubu will announce his ministers this week.

Tinubu’s cabinet formation is widely seen as another major test before the 71-year-old who has ended Nigeria’s long-standing addiction to costly petrol subsidies and suspended the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, whose unorthodox monetary policies hurt the economy.

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Business leaders and investors say Tinubu’s cabinet will send the clearest signal yet of what his administration holds for Nigeria’s wobbling economy.

Tinubu has assured that competence rather than politics will shape his selection of ministers. He doesn’t have a choice. Nigeria’s dire health demands a team of competent individuals who have the vision and capacity to breathe life into the ailing country.

Appointing ministers solely on competence won’t be that easy for Tinubu who has been besieged by several politicians in the last week as intense lobbying gets underway ahead of the formation of his cabinet.

The President has since his assumption devoted extra time to meeting politicians, who played active roles during his campaigns, as well as members of the opposition parties.

The two appointments Tinubu has made so far however signal his commitment to selecting ministers based on competence. He picked former leader of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as his Chief of Staff and George Akume as Secretary to the Government.

Details later…