Not All Nominees Will Be Ministers – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that some of the nominees recently cleared by the senate will not be made substantive ministers, but will only up “sitting” in federal executive council sessions.

Speaking in an interactive session with journalists in New Delhi, capital of India, on Friday, Buhari lamented state of the economy, saying: “The government is broke”.

Backing the 36 Minister nominees Buhari said that he can not work out outside the constitution and that ministers must be appointed in conformity with the constitution of the Federal Government in that ministerial appointment must reflect the 36 states of the country.

And that these minister nominees though representing their sates some will not have portfolios but will be part of his cabinet.

‘We can not work outside constitution there must be a cabinet representative from each state.

“There used to be 42 ministers but we will be lucky if we can have half of that now, others may not be substantive ministers but they will sit in the cabinet because that is what the constitution says and we cannot work outside the constitution.

“Where is the money? Nigeria cannot pay salaries. The federal government had to assist 27 out of the 36 states to pay salaries… The country was materially vandalized and morally sucked.”

Reacting to question on the the divide in the National Assembly over Rotimi Amaechi’s confirmation as minister, Buhari said he did not walk into the presidency alone hence he can not work alone and that some of those having problems at the National Assembly he has never met them.

‘This is team work I said I know people but there are people that I accept from other people in our team that I trust without even knowing them.

‘May be those that are having problem in the National Assembly I doubt if I have meet him in my life but then I am working with others.

‘I did not work into the presidency alone. I have to depend on all the three tiers of government from all part of the country.

Buhari commended India for setting aside a grant of $10 billion for African countries, adding that the assistance will go a long way in helping to shape the continent.

He said he had been able to facilitate some deals that will end up benefitting the country by alleviating unemployment and serving as a boost the economy.