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/

I hope baba will choose credible people. I wont be surprised if Fashola and Ameachi names are not there.

FTC here I come. ... sorry LadyF

I hope they will scale through? Because Nigerians will beam serious searchlight on those nominees.

Everybody knows that corruption has killed us, How do you want him to clear the mess of 16 years in 100days? I don't know why we are never be truthful with ourselves.. If the only thing PMB can achieve is just to instill fear of corruption..We are waiting for the list.... #PMB my Man

ok

Let's how many saints we will find in Sodom n Gomorrah

DSS working since 19 donkey years

I thought his body language would have done the screening...... Dullard

Meanwhile,after the vetting.

Whatever they are doing, they should know that the dollar is now 232 @ ebay. Pls someone that knows the terrain should man the Economy Gate immediately. Nigeria is bigger than anyone's personal vendetta or ambition. The Economy first because that's how I earn a living and not through politics.

Thank you President Buhari for bringing back the consciousness in the Nigerian people that there's something called CORRUPTION.

That's Good


Because we don't want people like someone mentioned below in our cabinet



Over to you

Tinubu may finally lose

good development! Need anything from Jumia? Contact me now!

So sorry for them APC goons. Ngenenkwenu (hope i got d spelling ryt) should be on the list since its time to reward loyalty.

operation get ready to unveil the ministerial nominees on course

Make we stil dey luk wit one eye til d deal day...

emperorceaser:
I thought the body language would have done the screening for the Dullard

Too dry. Better luck next time bros.

"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."

This part says it all and should shut up any reasonable opposition who's sincerely out for constructive criticism. All these unintelligent emotion laden destructive criticism will do the country no good.

Ok

"The expectations of life depends upon diligence, the mechanic that will perfect his work must first sharpen his tools" - Confucius.
"It is not the strength, but duration, of great sentiment that makes great men" - Friedrich Nietzsche.
"Between two evils, i always pick the one i never tried" - Mae West.

Small minds play hide and seek

Ok. We are patiently waiting Baba.

Ok, we are waiting

I so love this man, God bless this man, it's heart warming knowing we now have a sane and sober man to steer the ship of state... God will deal with that Out oke drunkard anywhere he is for putting us in this dire state, and even seeking a reelection at that, kai. ?....


Car owners and diagnostic shops....my check my signature and help urself

in elder orubebe's voice:dnt tell me ameachi will nt b made a minister,considering d fact dat he didnt work with pmb during d afore-mentioned era....if dat is done den i put it to u,dat pmb isnt fair for allowing our son betray is brother and also squander money under his domain....pmb dat is partiality,ur apppointed will nt hold...lol,dats me joking...naja my beloved funi country,d era of d elders taking over d lead from d men is here

I pity Buhari if after all this wasted time, he ends up picking people with questionable character.

I will love Buhari's ministerial appointment will be exclusively his Northern/Daura brothers. This way Tinubu may not murmur inwardly but openly cry foul

patiently waiting for list

Not bad.