*11 nominees cleared, 20  others  for fresh screening

By JIDE AJANI

Amid indications that the State Security  Service (SSS) may have cleared eleven ministerial nominees sent to it by the Presidency for security screening, there are feelers that the nominees are dominated by technocrats.

Also, Sunday Vanguard learnt that a fresh list of 20 ministerial nominees was sent to the  SSS for screening at the weekend.

Presidency sources said another list may be sent for screening this week.

To signpost that technocrats may dominate the  federal  cabinet as against politicians, the sources said one of  the eleven nominees already cleared is a distinguished professional and is being tipped to man the agriculture  ministry.
‘’ The nominee  is reputed to be one of the best in agriculture in Africa’’, one of the sources said.

There has been a silent war between technocrats and politicians on who should populate the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The reason for this is the argument by politicians that they were the ones who worked for the electoral victory of the president and not technocrats who stood idly bye during the elections.

Although some names were being bandied  last week as having scaled security clearance, Sunday Vanguard can reveal that, contrary to those reports, some of those names are yet to appear on any list.

It  was learnt that “whereas there is intense lobbying going on, the president and commander-in-chief is determined to ensure that those to be appointed ministers this time around would be those who can  make the difference with a view to moving Nigeria forward”.

A source  said “there are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan would still send more names for screening.  Mr. President would still send more names, that much I can tell you’’.

The indication to this effect, Sunday Vanguard can proffer, is based on the constitutional provision which states that each state of the federation should be represented in the Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF.
The 11 cleared nominees and the freshly delivered list of 20 give a total of 31 nominees.

There are 36 states in Nigeria; therefore, names from five more states would still need to be sent for security clearance.

Aso Rock Presidential Villa has reportedly since received the names of those who have already succeeded in the security clearance.