President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday night, met with the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) at the State House, Abuja.
The agenda of the meeting, which got under way at about 8.30 p.m., was unknown but it was learnt that the much awaited ministerial list was on the card.
The parley at the Villa was the first of its kind between Buhari and the new principal officers of both chambers since the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly.
The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, had, at Tuesday’s plenary, said that the President would submit the list of his cabinet members for Senate’s scrutiny and ratification this week.
But President Buhari, at the Villa meeting tried to justify the delay in forming his cabinet, declaring that unlike what happened in 2015 when he had to work with people, some of whom he didn’t quite know, this time around he wanted to be sure of all members of his team.
Senator Lawan said he never declared categorically that the President will submit the list to the senate this week. Rather, he recalled that what he said was the President ‘could’ send he list to senate this week.
Meanwhile President Buhari, on Wednesday, forwarded the names of 15 Special Advisers-designates to the senate for vetting.
Among the NASS leaders that attended were the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya; Deputy Leader, Prof. Ajayi Borofice; and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Others in attendance were: Senate Minority Whip, Senator Phillip Aduda; Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, House Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa and Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu.
Also at the meeting were the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang.