Ministerial nominees whose name were delivered to the Senate president on Wednesday were yesterday asked to submit their CV, Naijalog has learnt.
The 21 would-be ministers were not informed earlier that they were being considered for any position, a source in the presidency said.
President Muhammadu Buhari neither met nor hinted any of the nominees of their appointments, despite being close to some of the names on the list.
After shortlisting those he needed, according to a source, Buhari directed security agencies to conduct discreet investigations into their records. Those closer to him were not exempted, the source said.
“Even though some of them had been coming to the Presidential Villa, he did not confide in them.
“I can tell you that the President did not give assurance to anyone. The President adopted suspense all through. That is his style.
“The President only directed security agencies to conduct discreet security checks on them for about one or two months.
“The security checks were jealously guarded to prevent leakage. This was the nature of the appointment.
“The President adopted intelligence approach in picking his team. A few others who were nominated by some highly-placed Nigerians, political leaders and governors could not scale through the discreet checks.”
“He has done away with appointments based on favouritism, godafthers and egoism.
“Apart from merit, Buhari gave ministerial slots to those who have the ability, those who can deliver and those he has trusted over the years, including those who worked with him in the former Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and those in the trenches with him in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He has rewarded selflessness, perseverance and loyalty.”
Five factors determined the appointment of ministers by the President.
These are: strict adherence to principle of non-interference in choosing his cabinet, integrity or pedigree; selfless service; old acquaintances and less exposure to political influence.