Nigeria: Government appointments delayed by security screening

Besides the Abuja bomb blast on 16th June, the rumour mill has continued to focus on the subject of ministerial nominees to President Goodluck Jonathan's as-yet unnamed government. With the appointment of government delayed for nearly two weeks already, the bomb blast has not detracted from the on-going lobbying and intense politicking for ministerial positions.

It would appear that the president's nominee list has not been finalised. Sources report that some names have been substituted and, in some cases, have been reinstated on the list following interventions from highly influential people.

Additionally, we understand, several names of ministerial nominees have been sent to the State Security Service (SSS) for security screening, thereby delaying the transmission of the list to Senate president David Mark.

According to sources, former minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala (currently a managing director of the World Bank) appeared set to reprise her role at the Finance Ministry. However, she is reportedly among the nominees being screened by the SSS. Iweala is said to have given the president strict conditions for her return to political office, including being given a free hand to determine the country's economic policies, independently of presidential influence.

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