Sunny Akanni, a lawyer from Kaduna state, has threatened to drag President Muhammadu Buhari to court if he failed to appoint ministers from each of the 36 states of the federation.
The lawyer stressed that it would be a gross violation of the Nigerian constitution if the president failed to appoint ministers to represent each state.
The Punch quotes Akanni saying: “I have heard speculations that the president wants to reduce the number of ministers to be appointed to save cost of governance. That is a very good step and I commend him for that, but in taking such step, he has to be conscious of the provisions of the Constitution as well.
“Section 147 of the Constitution said the president shall appoint at least one minister from each state of the federation, who shall be indigene of such state.
“So, if a minister is not appointed from my state, I will challenge it in court because that is a violation of the provisions of section 147 of the Constitution. So it is compulsory that he appoints ministers from each of the states, he has no choice.”
However, Olisa Agbakoba, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, has recently stated that Nigeria would not be able to afford the cost of having 36 ministers. He suggested that the appointment of ministers should be on a zonal basis from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Earlier this week, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Lagos lawyer and activist, dragged the president to court over delay in appointing of ministers. He also pointed out extreme delay in the formation of Buhari’s cabinet and running the affairs of Nigeria as lone ranger as well as in a dictatorial style.
Meanwhile, Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, stated that the National Assembly current recess is responsible for the delay in announcement of ministerial list.
The lawyer stressed that it would be a gross violation of the Nigerian constitution if the president failed to appoint ministers to represent each state.
The Punch quotes Akanni saying: “I have heard speculations that the president wants to reduce the number of ministers to be appointed to save cost of governance. That is a very good step and I commend him for that, but in taking such step, he has to be conscious of the provisions of the Constitution as well.
“Section 147 of the Constitution said the president shall appoint at least one minister from each state of the federation, who shall be indigene of such state.
“So, if a minister is not appointed from my state, I will challenge it in court because that is a violation of the provisions of section 147 of the Constitution. So it is compulsory that he appoints ministers from each of the states, he has no choice.”
However, Olisa Agbakoba, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, has recently stated that Nigeria would not be able to afford the cost of having 36 ministers. He suggested that the appointment of ministers should be on a zonal basis from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Earlier this week, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Lagos lawyer and activist, dragged the president to court over delay in appointing of ministers. He also pointed out extreme delay in the formation of Buhari’s cabinet and running the affairs of Nigeria as lone ranger as well as in a dictatorial style.
Meanwhile, Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, stated that the National Assembly current recess is responsible for the delay in announcement of ministerial list.
