The list of ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the National Assembly conforms to public expectations.
Among the 28 named nominees are four former governors, two federal lawmakers and seven women. But 11 of 36 states were not represented.
A former Minister for National Planning, Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, who spoke on Channels Television, said the list satisfied the criteria of quality, inclusivity and national unity.
But, he noted that the list did not capture people with disabilities.
He said: “What I have seen today is a blend of technocrats and politicians. It is a blend of those who have worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and for the President to win the election.
“In the area of inclusion, we have seven women out of 28, and that is not too bad, considering the fact that there are still eleven slots to be filled.
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“Two, considering the likes of former Governor Nyesom Wike, a PDP member, now nominated. He worked for the party and, give it to him, he did very well for the party.
“Beyond Wike, you talk of legal guru, Lateef Fagbemi, Stella Okotietie, Betta Edu, less than 40 years. This is good.”
Abubakar said: “However, one thing I haven’t seen is people with vulnerability.
“The list, to my mind, is in line with our expectations.
“Looking at the pedigrees of these nominees, they have the pedigrees, expertise and capacity, regardless of the portfolio, they will do very well.
“Before now, we have been talking of a government of national unity and a government of inclusivity.”
“I think with what we have seen so far, these nominees are good to go.”
A political analyst, Kayode Ogundamisi, said the nominees are people with reputation.
But, he urged the President to fix them in their areas of competence so that they can deliver the dividend of democracy to Nigerians.
He said: “This list is good to go. When we look at the politicians on the list, like David Umahi, Nasir el-Rufai, Nyesom Wike, these governors have a track record of delivering good services and they showed that as governors in their various states.
“You will see that the president put a lot of thought into this list.
“What we should now be praying for is that the President should assign these individuals the right portfolios.
“I would like to see Dele Alake in the ministry of information, el-Rufai in power, Wike in housing.
“From the list, you can’t see anybody that is not worthy of being a minister.
“But, I wish the president will do away with minister of state position.
“It is unfortunate that despite the economic challenge, we are spending so much on government appointees.”
“My initial comment is that the list is indeed a welcome one.”
Ogundamisi, however, expressed disappointment that the President was just submitting his ministerial nominees.
He said: “But, let me say that I am a bit disappointed that the list just came now, despite the fact the president had given us the impression that he already had a plan and we had thought within a few days, the nominees would have been unfolded.”