Yemi Ajayi
26 June 2011
President Goodluck Jonathan is set to name some of his personal aides, comprising the chief of staff, senior special assistants and special assistants this week.
A presidency source said Saturday night that the announcement of the names of presidential aides would be done in batches, but some of them might be made public anytime from Tuesday when the list of ministerial nominees are forwarded to the senate, while others would be announced later.
However, the source said the president would delay the announcement of those to be appointed special advisers until he gets the senate to approve the number of those to be appointed into such position.
The senate which is currently on recess is expected to resume plenary on Tuesday.
Section 151 of the 1999 Constitution requires the president to seek the approval of the National Assembly for the number of advisers to assist him in the presidency.
The section reads: “The president may appoint any person as a special adviser to assist him in the performance of his functions. The number of such advisers and their remuneration and allowances shall be prescribed by law or by resolution of the National Assembly.”
The presidency source absolved Jonathan from delays over the constitution of his cabinet, adding that the delay in the ministerial list has nothing to do with him.
He said Jonathan would have named his cabinet by now if not for the senate which went on recess immediately after its inauguration on June 6.
He said the president had kept part of his bargain to make the list of his nominees ready within three days of his inauguration, but was hamstrung by the recess taken by lawmakers.
He added that it was during this time lag that ensued that all manner of lobbyists laid siege on the presidency and names of nominees started to leak into the public domain.
It was as a result of the intense lobbying that prompted the president to bar visitors looking for government appointments from the presidential villa, the official stated.
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Jonathan to Name Personal Aides This Week