6th July, 2011
The House of Representatives has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a minister from each state of the federation in accordance with the provisions of section 147 (3) of the Constitution.
This followed a motion moved by Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN-Lagos), on the nomination of Mr. Olusegun Aganga as minister from Lagos State.
Gbajabiamila said the President was limited by the provisions of the section which allowed him to nominate one minister from each state.
Gbajabiamila said that Lagos state had been shortchanged by the nomination of Aganga whom he said hailed from Edo.
He said the President might have committed an oversight and called for urgent resolution of the matter.
“The nomination of Aganga was in violation of the Constitution. Section 143 (3) of the Constitution provides that the President shall appoint at least one minister, who shall be an indigene, form each state.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has written a letter to the House seeking its consent on the appointment of 20 Special Advisers.
This is in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution which required the President to notify the National Assembly on appointment of Special Advisers.