President Muhammadu Buhari would soon announce the names of fourteen special advisers for his administration, Daily Trust has learnt.
A source in the Presidency disclosed yesterday that the president already had the list of those that would be his special advisers.
President Buhari had last Wednesday concluded the process of the formation of his cabinet with the swearing-in of 36 ministers and the inauguration of the new Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The source, who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, told our correspondent yesterday that any time soon, the president would make known to the public, names of his special advisers.
“You know the ministers have just been inaugurated. The key appointments which Mr. President is set to announce any moment from now are those of his special advisers. Mr President is no longer in the process of searching for those advisers. That has been done. He will announce their names any time soon,” the source stated.
Our correspondent reports that the Senate had on June 3 approved President Buhari‘s request to appoint 15 special advisers for his administration.
But since then, the only special adviser whose appointment Buhari had so far announced was Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Asked to specifically confirm when the president would announce the appointments of the remaining 14 special advisers, Adesina declined yesterday.
The presidential spokesman told our correspondent on telephone that President Buhari would fill the remaining 14 positions of special advisers as he found it necessary.
The presidential spokesman simply stated: He (President Buhari) will fill those positions as he finds them necessary.”
President Buhari had on June 2, 2015, in a letter addressed to the then Senate President, Senator David Mark, said his request to appoint 15 special advisers was in accordance with the Section 151 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended).
“I write to request for your kind consideration and approval of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic to appoint 15 special advisers as prescribed in Section 151(2-3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“While trusting that this exercise will receive the traditional prompt attention of the Senate, please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration,” the president had written that time.
