UPDATED: Finally, Buhari forwards list of ministerial nominees to senate

After a wait that seemed eternal, the Nigerian senate is now in possession of President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of nominees for ministerial positions.

A highly-placed source at the national assembly told TheCable that Ita Enang, special adviser to the president on national assembly matters (senate), and Abba Kyari, his chief of staff, delivered the list at exactly 4:56pm.

A source said the list contains 21 names, in line with the president’s pledge to reduce the load of public office appointees on the economy.

All eyes had been on the senate since its resumption on Tuesday, but the waiting public was disappointed as the senate adjourned without a mention of the ministerial list, despite Ita Enang’s early arrival at the upper chamber, which fuelled speculations that he bore the list.

The wait was even more intense on Wednesday, but proceedings for the day ended without Saraki reading any letter on the subject matter.

Dino Melaye, spokesman of the senate, subsequently addressed the media, saying the legislators were still awaiting the list from the presidency.