The federal government will begin board appointments for its agencies from the end of January.

A top source in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said the appointments would be done in phases.  “The first of such appointments will be out by end of January to begin with the ministries of education and agriculture.

“The templates are ready. The two ministries have the biggest parastatals and will have more impact on those expecting appointments,” the source said.

President Muhammadu Buhari is trying to have a great say as to the kind of people he intends to appoint as board members.  It is the same posture he adopted at the time he was forming his cabinet, but state governors are said to be in disagreement over this. “The governors made all manner of protests but the President told them to go and make their own boards and other appointments and leave him to do his,” the source said.

The source added: “Some people are still sending applications for board appointment. We want to use the board appointments to address the challenges we are facing in the party.

One of the members of the presidential committee on the reconstitution of the federal government boards of parastatals, agencies and commissions, last night described their assignment as ‘a daunting task’ but added that they have gone far.

The member, who spoke in confidence, said so far, they have identified issues in several parastatals, agencies and commissions that need to be addressed.

“Our work is daunting because it has to do with reorganising the affected establishments, bearing in mind the issue of federal character, expertise, economic potentials and political expediency. We have gone far in the work, but the most important thing we are considering is national unity,” he said.