Ambode sends 36-man cabinet list to House for screening

• Tinubu’s in-law, ex-officials top list
LAGOS State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday submitted his list of would-be cabinet members for screening and approval of the State House of Assembly. Ambode, in a letter to the House, which was read on the floor on Monday, presented a list of 23 prospective commissioners and 14 Special Adviser nominees.

Conspicuous on the list are names of officeholders that served in various capacities during the last administration. They include the former Deputy Majority Leader of the Lagos Assembly, who is also Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s elder sister, Lola Akande, and her then colleague, Adebimpe Akinsola.

Other returnees are: Dr. Jide Idris (former health commissioner); Musiliu Folami (former SA); Babatunde Hunpe (former SA); Ganiyu Johnson (former SA); Tunde Durosimi-Etti; Gbolahan Lawal (former Commissioner for Agriculture); Folarin Coker (former SA); Abdul-lateef AbdulHakeem (former SA); Dr. Dayo Mobereola (CEO of LAMATA); Seye Oladejo (former SA) and Kehinde Bamgbetan (former chairman of Ejigbo LCDA).

The list also has: Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni; Agboola Dabiri; Yetunde Onabule; Rotimi Ogunleye; Kehinde Joseph; Akinyemi Ashade; Arc Wasiu Anifowose; Dr. Benson Akintola; Dr. Femi Onanuga; Femi Odubiyi; Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, Fela Bank-Olemoh and Wale Oluwo.

Others are: Niji Kazeem; Benjamin Adeyemi Labinjo; Toyin Suarau; Anofi Elegusi; Prof Ademola Abass; Deji Tinubu; Dr. Babatunde Adejare (former member of the House of Representatives); Munirat Giwanson; Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf; Engr Ade Adesanya and Steve Ayorinde.

Ambode stated that the nominees were youthful officials that would help drive his “vigorous reorganization exercise in the state public service” that he has commenced since he came to office.

According to him, “The realignment of Ministries and the strengthening of parastatals for greater efficiency was a precursor to constitution of a dynamic and vibrant State Executive Council. With the conviction that the reorganisation exercise has reached a satisfactory level, it becomes imperative to nominate names of members of State Executive Council to spearhead the various programmes of the government.”

The presentation for legislative endorsement is in line with Sections 192 and 196 of the 1999 Constitution. Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, remarked that the governor has sent “a friendly list” to the House, adding that his members would be seeing “some of our colleagues once the screening starts next week, after the salah break.”

, while cleared cabinet members are likely to be sworn in to resume work by Monday October 5, 2015.