President Buhari’s  Nominees: Matters Arising

NIGERIANS have heaved a sigh of relief at the release of President Muhammadu Buhari’s submission of his cabinet nominations to the Senate for consideration, screening, and approval. While many felt that the list was late in coming, however THE HOPE acknowledges the fact that unlike his first term in office, the submission of this list came earlier. Credence must however be given to the Senate which compelled the ministerial nominees’ list by intimating the Presidency and Nigerians that the President’s refusal to submit the list on time would not hamper their statutory leave. The President has released the list of those ‘he knew’, unlike those he was forced to nominate during his first term in office. The senate had not only screened but approved all the nominees sent to it by the presidency.

THE new list of nominees however consists of 14 previous ministers, nine former governors, and others who either have held or are still holding different public offices in the country. The President’s lists suggests that he has more faith in tested old hands than technocrats or untested youths in the delivery of his Next Level agenda. In this light, THE HOPE is of the opinion that the President’s decision to use politicians could be borne out of the fact that they understand the party’s programmes and intents and are therefore well positioned to initiate policies and take necessary actions that would enable the party and the President deliver on the party’s promises to the electorates.

HOWEVER, THE HOPE is concerned that many of the nominees are advanced in age. Given the complexities of the Nigeria society, and the age of the President, one would think that more youthful Nigerians could have been included in the list of ministers. The choice of Ministers was however borne out of consultations and lobbying by party leaders. Therefore, powerful forces in the corridors of power would have recommended the nominated helmsmen.

THUS, the spotlight should be on those who make recommendations to the President. The onus is on them to make nominations of vibrant, youthful, and industrious Nigerians to the President. Given that the choice has been made, the Ministers could enhance their productivity by appointing youthful and industrious aids and work in partnership with the Civil Servants in their various ministries. The time is however ripe for the Senate to insist that ministerial nominees to the Senate must bear the proposed Ministries. This would enable the Senate to do a thorough screening on the nominees, and determine the appropriateness of such ministers to the assigned portfolios.

IN the light of present realities, THE HOPE advises that the President should assign portfolios to the successful nominees in their areas of competence, and given executive functions. Therefore, the successful nominees must be given enough authority to execute their responsibilities.

FOR a successful performance of ministerial responsibilities, THE HOPE also suggests that some ministries should be unbundled for efficient and effective service delivery. President Muhammadu Buhari should also be very careful and selective in the persons that operate the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, and Defence. While these ministries are germane to the tackling of the security challenges in the country at this period, the Minister of Finance should be carefully selected to enhance economic development of the nation, and tackle the prevalent poverty that enhances insecurity in the political system.

WE charged successful ministerial nominees to hit the ground running on assignment of their different portfolios. THE HOPE expects them to bring themselves up to date on the challenges, successes, failures, and shortcomings of the ministries to which they have been assigned. To this end, Civil Servants should avail them with the necessary information that would enhance their productivity in office. The President and political party are also expected to have measurable performance indices to appraise the performance of the ministerial nominees in their place of assignment. Government must not wait for four years to determine the retention, swapping or outright change of Ministers based on their service delivery to the eager Nigerians.

AS the Ministers obtain their portfolios, THE HOPE reiterates the fact that responsibilities have been given to them in trust, and no excuse shall be tenable or accepted by Nigerians for failures to provide adequate service delivery to Nigerians and attain the promised Next Level.