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LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's Senate announced 20 nominees for the Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, representing all regions of this West African nation but only three women in a team expected to fight endemic corruption.
Buhari has said he will hold the most powerful portfolio of petroleum in Africa's biggest oil producer.
Among the candidates is the recently appointed head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp., Harvard-educated Ibe Kachikwu. Kachikwu has 30 years' experience in Nigeria's private oil sector and is touted to be minister of state running the petroleum ministry with Buhari's oversight.
One of Buhari's first acts was to fire the top echelon of the state oil industry, from which $20 billion allegedly has been looted.
There were no surprises on Tuesday's list, which senators will start vetting next week, said Senate President Bukola Saraki.
"He's using those who have track record and experience in governance. I think that's the best thing for us to do," said Sen. Robert Boroffice, a member of Buhari's party.
But there are not enough women and no candidates under 50, complained the Enough Is Enough Nigeria Coalition, a group for good governance. It "doesn't give credit to what young Nigerians and women have to contribute to national development," said the coalition's Yemi Adamelokun.
The list includes former Gov. Babatunde Fashola, who made Lagos state financially independent through tax collection and former Rivers State Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, the first rebel to defect from ousted President Goodluck Jonathan's party and help bring Buhari, a northern Muslim, much-needed votes in the mainly Christian south.
Women nominees include U.N. special adviser Amina Ibrahim and Kemi Adeosun, a corruption-fighting former state finance commissioner. Buhari did not specify what positions candidates will hold and said more nominees will follow for a truncated Cabinet to keep down costs. His nominations come six months after his election brought Nigeria's first democratic change of government.
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