President Muhammadu Buhari has been praised for the quality of his cabinet.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun disclosed this while receiving the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello who paid him a courtesy visit at the national secretariat of the party.
Oyegun reiterated that the calibre of people like the FCT Minister would surely take the Federal Capital Territory to enviable heights considering his pedigree.
He lamented that the economy of the country was plunged into a sorry state by the previous governments, in addition to the down turn of oil price, which has remained the nation’s major source of revenue thereby making things very difficult.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, Oyegun emphasised that if previous governments had diversified the country’s economy all these years, the situation would have been better today.
The National Chairman commended the FCT Minister for the visit, saying it was quite energising to the party to rub minds with all stakeholders.
Oyegun assured that the APC would work very closely with the FCT Minister and the entire FCT Administration to take Abuja to the next level.
On the forthcoming FCT Area Council election, the National Chairman promised to support the FCT Chapter of the party to deliver the councils to the party.
He, however, called for teamwork on the part of all Party faithful to ensure that APC comes out victorious in the elections.
Speaking earlier, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello promised to work closely with the party in his efforts to deliver the desired Change Agenda of the Federal Government.
While reminding the Chairman of the forthcoming Area Councils’ elections slated for March 19, 2016, Malam Bello called for the support of the Headquarters of the Party to FCT Chapter to ensure victory at the polls.
He said, “We are also here to pay homage as loyal party men and to tap from the wisdom of its leadership which transcends several decades”.
Tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari will form his cabinet, with the inauguration of ministers. How will the cabinet fare? Will it stop impunity; boost rule of law; address infrastructure and security challenges? Lawyers tell PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU what they would like to see the cabinet do.
IN the last elections, Nigerians voted for change, the slogan on which the All Progressives Congress (APC) rode to power.
Tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to form his cabinet, with the inauguration of ministers, who have their jobs cut out for them. The ministers are coming at a time the economy is in dire straits, amid falling oil prices.
Twenty-seven of the 36 states, President Buhari said in New Delhi, India, a few days ago, got bailout to pay workers.
During the campaigns, the APC promised to tackle unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption and impunity.
To the opposition, the President has within three months wrecked the economy. The government denied the claim.
Acording to the Presidency, the harm done to the economy in 16 years of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) rule cannot be quantified.
But coming at a time of slump in global oil prices from $105 to $45 per barrel, how can the Buhari administration tackle the country’s challenges?
The challenges
The President has painted a gloomy picture of the economy, even hinting that due to present realities, some of the ministers may not have portfolios. There is a likelihood that the existing ministries may be pruned.
In addition to the economic downturn, the nation has been ravaged by insecurity, especially terrorism in the Northeast.
Infrastructure such as electricity, roads and rail networks are comatose, frustrating the development of local businesses.
Over 112 million Nigerians are said to live in abject poverty (62.6 percent); 31 percent of the nation’s population are unemployed with an increase rate of 8.2 percent; while the economy is hobbled by low foreign reserves ($29.6billion), as well as low agricultural output and absence of manufacturing industries.
Endemic corruption, impunity, lawlessness, weak institutions, delay in justice administration, multiple taxation as well as unfair trade practices are some of the challenges the new cabinet are expected to tackle.
They must restore investors’ confidence considering the country’s rating by the World Bank as one of the fastest growing economies.
While putting the population of the poor at 110 million, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) last week said most Nigerians had remained poor despite rising revenues and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth because the nation’s main revenue earners, the extractive oil and gas, did not create many jobs.
He attributed the situation to the irony of a top-down economic model where the major revenue earner was extractive but the value chain was poorly developed.
Delivering change
Prof. Osinbajo at a retreat for ministers-designate held last Thursday stated that the nation could get out of possible recession by embarking on massive infrastructure building/renewal programme; social spending/social protection; improved consumer spending; job creation, and expansionist fiscal/monetary policies.
He further hinted that the government was working on a N7 trillion to N8 trillion budget for next year, with proposed capital expenditure pegged at N2trillion, against the N1.31trillion capital expenditure in this year’s N4.4trillion budget.
He stated that all expenses must be justified for each new budget year.
Lawyers believe good policy directives as well as public enlightenment on decisions taken by government and why such decisions were taken should be taken seriously.
Some said introduction of practices such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as well as the no nonsense stance of the current administration were indications that the government was willing to deliver on its promises.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Norrison Quakers, noted that the recovery of the economy which has been battered over the years through direct stealing and siphoning cannot be done in four years.
“The government has started well by identifying reasons for the economic downturn. The introduction of the TSA is simply brilliant.
“The prosecution of politically exposed persons; strengthening of enforcement and prosecuting agencies of government and institutions; the diversification of the economy from oil to other sources; the diplomatic source for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); the refusal to devalue the Naira; transparency in government earnings and revenue; appointment of technocrats with track record in public service and the austere and spartan leadership that the current government projects are indicators of the seriousness of the government to deliver on its campaign promises.
“I believe if the economic developmental agenda of this government are implemented to the letter, within the current political atmosphere defined by the persona of the President, after four years, visible progress would then be seen to have been made.
“It is imperative for the government to embark on public enlightenment and awareness of its policies and programmes, so that the citizenry will be in a position to determine whether the government has failed or has succeeded in pulling the country from the doldrums of economic, social and political quagmire that has existed before its emergence.”
To former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, Ikeja Branch, Monday Ubani, the cabinet should look into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy on foreign exchange with a view to removing bottlenecks.
He said the president should assemble a crack economic team in order to fashion the right economic direction and set out workable parameters to address the myriad of problems.
“The president needs to assemble a crack economic team within the cabinet that will define the right economic direction of this government and set out workable economic parameters that will immediately address the myriads of economic problems confronting the Nigerian citizens.
“The economic architecture must create a framework for short, medium and long term results. Nigerians are brutalised economically and so may not be too patient with this government over the improvement of their economic lives.
“I used the word “too patient” advisedly. Quick palliatives must be created that will cushion the effects of long harsh economic conditions of the citizens. That must be done quickly.
“The fight against corruption must be whole, structured and institutionalised. The bane of the country is corruption; it has retarded our growth and development. It needs to be tackled headlong and wholistically.
“One was impressed with this government when it appointed an Anti Corruption Committee headed by Professor Itsey Sagay which I believe will be empowered to formulate short, medium and long term policies to tackle corruption from now onwards.
“They must also start orientation of our young ones in nursery and primary schools on virtues of hardwork, honesty, transparency and commitment to national ideals and morals. In that way, it will go a long way in breeding new Nigerians that will hate and detest corruption both in private and public lives.
“For now we need a very honest, committed, independent and patriotic judiciary that will handle corruption cases with despatch. Corruption cases should not be handled carelessly and without end in sight.
“The fight against corruption will be won the day we have a judiciary and security agencies that want corruption to be nipped in the bud in Nigeria. Let the philosophy that ‘we want an end to corruption’ be imbibed by all the members of the security agencies and the judiciary and we will witness a drastic reduction if not an end to corruption in Nigeria.
“A virile judiciary, competent security agencies and a political will on the part of the executive will end impunity and enthrone the rule of law in Nigeria. That is the truth,”
On infrastructural development, Ubani said the current government must get to work immediately by addressing the appalling level of decay in infrastructure.
He said all unpassable federal roads especially in the eastern region, which are worst hit, should be repaired immediately.
“The moment federal presence is felt in the regions, the agitation for self determination will ebb drastically. Apart from repairs of roads, new road constructions and expansions should be initiated.
“For the 16 years of democracy we have not heard or seen any new road constructions and expansions. All the roads that the Federal Government is finding difficulty in repairing were constructed during the military era, this is very shameful.
“To be specific, Lagos Ibadan expressway should be addressed, the Apapa Oshodi way in Lagos should be expanded, the Ikot Ekpene/Ikwuano Road, Aba/Port Harcourt Road, Owerri/Port Harcourt, Enugu/ Umuahia Road, Onitsha/Owerri Road and all the federal bad roads in the East, West, South South, North East, North West and North Central states should be repaired and expanded immediately.
“The security situation is frightening. Apart from Boko Haram insurgents, the rate of armed robbery incidents, kidnappings, rape and other nefarious crimes are increasing by the day.
“Government should in addition to equipping the security agencies with efficient instruments and better conditions of service provide employment or create conducive economic environment for businesses to thrive, thereby reducing the idle hands that are easily recruitable to commit crimes.
“We must adopt a wholistic strategy to reduce crime and crimality in the polity. Efforts of sociologists, philosophers, security experts, anti crime strategists and legal personnels should be pulled together to find lasting solutions to the problem of security in Nigeria.”
Ubani said the cabinet should tackle the legal issues that impede on the ability of states and individuals to generate and supply power to those who need it.
“It will be disastrous for this government if they fail to find a permanent solution to the perennial darkness in the land. Nigerians need stable and regular power supply daily, it is feasible. This cabinet must address this issue of power quickly.
“Finally the present CBN regime on forex is stifling businesses. The new cabinet should look into the directives of the CBN on importations and foreign exchange and remove unnecessary bottlenecks and ease business transactions both domestically and internationally. “We wish this government success in solving the basic problems of the citizens. Now that we have change, let the change in our lives begin in earnest,” he said.
•Ofuokwu
For a constitutional lawyer, Mr Ike Ofuokwu, there is hope with the new cabinet, as it comprises tested and tried hands.
“If the truth must be told, this is the first time in this democratic dispensation that we are having a Federal cabinet devoid of political and party considerations but rather predominantly founded on performance records and characters of the individuals.
“Never mind all the criticisms from those who for 16 years gave us a predominantly recycled and tired characters whose only record of public service is primitive accumulation of our common wealth and who left behind an indebted and near bankrupt nation.
“We expect among other things that the new Exco follows the footstep of President Muhammadu Buhari in running this nation with a zero tolerance for corruption, in putting this nation back on the path of economic revival and restoration where impunity will be consigned to history and the rule of law will be supreme.
“They should immediately hit the ground running by putting all basic infrastructure such as roads, power, health, etc in place. They should guarantee the security of life and property and put an end to all forms of insurgency and criminality in whatever guise.
“Considering the dwindling price of oil in the international market, they should think out of the box and stop relying on Federal allocation for all and everything. They should all agree to reduce their over bloated security apparatus to avoid sending messages of insecurity to our would-be investors and they must reduce drastically the size of their aides as it is obvious the economy can no longer cater for political parasites.
“They should all put things in place here in Nigeria and desist from all forms of medical tourism.
“Finally this new cabinet should say no to all forms of political razzmatazz by drastically reducing their convoys and stop harassing other road users. I believe that an era of accountability has come to stay. Hence we should think beyond ourselves, for the future generation of Nigerians.”
•Ozoobia
A former Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association (CLA) president, Mrs. Boma Ozobia, wants to see improvements in justice administration.
“That necessarily implies justice for all, not just those who can pay for good legal representation. Our prisons and police cells are clogged with innocent citizens of this country. The criminal justice system needs a total overhaul to deal with this shameful state of affairs.”
She added: “Also, we must revisit the issue of community policing as an essential element of criminal justice reform. Sadly, this has been unduly politicised but we cannot shy away from it. As the saying goes, you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. Finally, in reforming the system, I would hope that the focus would be on restorative justice where possible.”
•Adekoya
A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) First Vice-President, Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), said she expects a change of focus from the new administration.
“There is no point complaining if nothing happens. The Public Complaints Commission should be strengthened through effective leadership and its powers as a dispute resolver enhanced so that it can effectively provide an outlet to the many complaints about abuse of power, high handedness and sexual harassment resonating within the public service.
“Allegations of corruption need to be speedily and impartially investigated, and where a case is made, it needs to be speedily prosecuted. In-house capacity building in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the EFCC and all other prosecuting arms should be a major focus,’’ she said.
A former NBA General Secretary Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) believes a new Nigeria is possible.
“With regards to justice sector, there is a lot to be done both in our civil and criminal justice systems. Delay is still rampant. Congestion is still noticeable. The judiciary must undergo a fundamental constitutional reform to address part of the challenges facing it. The truth is that most of the problems are inherently systemic. Nigeria must practise true federalism in the judiciary. For instance, the states must have their own Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court,” Adesina said.
A former Lagos Attorney-General Olasupo Shasore (SAN), said he expects a focus on the constitutional, legislative and human obstacles to beneficial justice sector performance.
“To devolve prosecution, law enforcement and prison authority to concurrent jurisdiction with states in order to tackle awaiting trial and public confidence; for the first time to articulate a National Justice (including judicial) sector policy document; to remove the constitutional inordinate right of appeal; appoint quality appellate judges from the bar; regulate law reporting; introduce investigative/arrest powers to the office public prosecution,” he said.
Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) expects the replication of Lagos Model with modifications in the country’s justice administration.
“I expect a comprehensive reorgani-sation of the anti-corruption agencies to ensure that their mandates are realised; strengthening of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by giving it adequate funding and manpower to execute its functions; reorganising Legal Aid Council to ensure that its objectives are fully realised; comprehensive reform of many of our laws to bring them up to date and plug the various lacunae in the amendment of some provisions in the 1999 Constitution to reflect the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian people; collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in comprehensively reforming the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 to ensure that free and fair elections are conducted and that the mechanism for redress is fair and just to the litigants; finding solutions to the nagging issue of unemployment among junior lawyers, resolving the issue of welfare package for our judicial officers and state Counsel at federal level and resolving the huge debt portfolio of Federal Ministry of Justice,” Ngige added.
The month of September is around the corner; it is almost upon us. If they haven’t already started, speculations will soon start on when Buhari will actually announce the members of his federal cabinet and what women and men will be in the cabinet. In starting this week’s column with these observations, I do not myself wish to start what, for the most part, I consider idle speculations. There isn’t anything special about the President’s choice of September, more than three months after his inauguration, as the month in which he would announce the members of his cabinet to the country. I mean, for all we know, he could as well have chosen August, October or even November. But he did choose September and I for one wish to give him the benefit of the doubt that September was not a random choice. And this is why I am invoking the trope of “Septemberists” in this article to explore the possibility, the necessity even, that members of Buhari’s cabinet might turn out to be women and men that in experience, abilities and impact, will be unprecedented in our country’s political history. What does this trope of “Septemberists” allude to; what does it mean? And why am I invoking it here when I am absolutely certain that Buhari and his advisers do not have the events in European and world history to which the trope alludes in mind at all?
Our comments on the “Septemberists” will be shorter. Known in the Portuguese language as “Setembristas”, they got their appellation from their successful revolt of September 9, 1836 against Queen Maria 11. Their revolt was essentially against the terrible inefficiency, corruption and backwardness of Portuguese monarchical rule in the period of European colonial and imperial overseas adventures. In effect, they were liberals and “modernizers” who wished to lay the foundations of sound and efficient constitutional rule in feudal Portugal. One of their most notable actions was the prohibition of slavery in Portugal itself and all overseas Portuguese colonies. Ultimately, their success was short-lived, the British joining forces with the Portuguese crown to crush them.
In order for this excursion into European and world history to have any pertinence to the subject of this essay, this being the potential impact of Buhari’s cabinet to be announced in a September that is only days away, we must be able to discern in present-day Nigeria a movement among our politicians and technocrats that can be adjudged to have the same liberal, progressive and modernizing worldview, values and dedication as the “Septemberists” of Portuguese revolutionary history. Please note that “September” happened to be merely incidental to the more substantial nature and impact of Portugal’s 19th century “Septemberists”. If their revolt had taken place in the month of October, they would have been called “Octobrists”. In this case, we are in the happy circumstance of being able to match the month of the announcement and institution of Buhari’s cabinet with a term that already exists in world history as a term with quite portentous significance. In other words, by their deeds ye shall know them: if Buhari’s cabinet proves to be exceptional in relation to all the cabinets we have ever had in this country, it will be our closest equivalent to the “Septemberists” of history.
Last week, in his column in this newspaper, Tatalo Alamu declared assertively that we are more or less in “revolutionary times”. I do not wish to take issue with that declaration; I merely wish to reflect on it with specific regard to the issue of those who will be on the ramparts of the administrative machinery of governance for the next four years. Will they make a difference in the lives, the yearnings, the aspirations of the majority or generality of Nigerians? Will they make a substantial departure from the mediocrity, the corruption and the inefficiency of the PDP era that reached the peak in the Jonathan administration? If it is the case that we are now living in revolutionary times, like all revolutions the Buhari “revolution” must have its revolutionaries. But so far, in the National Assembly and in the agencies and parastatals for which the President has appointed managerial heads, no “revolutionaries” have surfaced. As a matter of fact, it could be argued that in the National Assembly, the exact opposite is what we have seen: the seizure of power by counter-revolutionaries.
Concerning the President as head of state and head of government, Buhari has himself humorously and rather fetchingly acknowledged the fact that Nigerians have given him the nickname of “Baba Go-Slow”. He is difficult, he is challenging to read. He is not exactly like a closed book, but neither is he an open book. He contested for the presidency four times and only won the fourth time. Thus, he had all the time in the world to work out a vision of what he wanted to do, what he wanted to achieve with power. For unlike military coups where you seize power first and then scramble around trying to find out what to do with it, in an epic electoral quest lasting more than twelve years, Buhari should have come to office prepared from day one with a clear sense of what to do and where to go. And if we grant that with the doctrine and the practice of separation of powers Buhari could not have done much to avert the seizure of power in the National Assembly by the “counter-revolutionaries”, it has to be admitted that the President is in full control in the executive branch of government. If that is the case, nearly four months since his election is a long time to wait to find out what caliber of men and women he will select for his cabinet.
Ben Nwabueze has suggested that the long delay in Buhari’s announcement of the members of his cabinet is nothing other than the manifestation of a lingering holdover of autocratic predilections from the time when the President was a military dictator. This may or may not be true. Definitely, there are other rather more mundane explanations for this long delay. One of such explanations is the fact that country was left so broke, so close to the edge of bankruptcy by the Jonathan administration that putting a cabinet in place right away after electoral victory was not one of the priorities of the new administration. This is certainly true of many of the state governors, many of whom, finding totally emptied treasuries in the state capitals when they took over from the departing former governors, actually “saved” a lot by deliberately being slow, being unhurried in appointing members of their cabinets: if you don’t have commissioners, special advisers, personal assistants and protocol officers, you don’t have to pay their huge salaries and allowances.
Sooner or later, sooner rather than later, Buhari will announce the names of the members of his cabinet. I am not betting on it, but I hope that they will be like the “Septemberists” whose role in a short episode of European and world history I have invoked in this essay, together with their legacy. I am in particular looking forward to the people who will fill the slots for two Ministries, these being Justice and Education. In the last four weeks in this column, I have focused rather single-mindedly on how the law, through the agency of senior lawyers, magistrates and judges became the perfect and almost inviolable shield and protector of those who looted our national coffers on an unprecedented scale. With the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 into law, the new Minister of Justice and Attorney General will have a powerful, almost invincible weapon against this entrenchment of Bar and Bench in service of corruption in Nigeria. Only someone in the mold of the “Septemberists” can be expected to make this possible. Let us recall here what the “Septemberists” stood for: a liberal, progressive and modernizing overhaul of the inefficiency, corruption and backwardness of the monarchical order of feudal Portugal.
To the last of my days on this side of the grave, I shall remain in bafflement why not one of the Ministers of Education in the PDP era failed to declare a state of emergency at all levels and areas of our educational system – primary, secondary and tertiary; private and public; denominational and non-denominational. Pupils were failing at historically astronomically high rates and yet not once did any Minister of Education seriously express a sense of crisis. And ironically, some of the Ministers concerned were themselves members of the academic profession!
These two Ministries are not alone, they do not stand apart from the general rot; they are indeed symptomatic. The last impression I wish to leave is that the cabinet, the ministries exist in isolation and can therefore be “saved” by supermen and women that in this essay I am calling “Septemberists”. The historical “Septemberists” were not individual technocrats or politicians seeking to make a name or a fortune for themselves; above all else, they were members of a movement in Portuguese politics, culture and society with a pronounced and consistent dedication to liberal, progressive and modernizing values and ideals. Do we have such a movement in our country at the present time? That is the question. I happen to think that we do; however, I also think that individuals who correspond to this type in our society tragically generally tend not to see themselves as part of a movement, a trend.
Ultimately, the bottom line is this: Is Buhari himself cut in the mold of a truly progressive and modernizing statesman and will the Party of which he is Head by virtue of being the President be a party of destiny that will do what needs to be done at this particular moment of our history? In another month or two, we shall begin to have the outlines of a plausible answer to this tantalizing question.
SIR:Nigerians have anxiously been waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to unfold his cabinet expected to drive the change mantra of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While some believe that the President is too slow in taking this critical decision, not a few feel that such a crucial assignment should not be done in a hurry in view of the perceived bad shape of things in the country.
Perhaps, because of the delay in rolling out the ministerial list, the media have been awash with various names and personalities being speculated as the preferred candidates for the cabinet positions. Certainly, the APC as a party would have a considerable influence on who becomes what, as I am sure that the President should also have an idea of a number of Nigerians that he would like to work with in bringing about the transformational change that the country truly deserves now.
That is the more reason why the President should ensure that he is not stampeded into choosing the wrong persons and imposed candidates that could constitute clog in the wheel of progress of the new administration. He should not allow sentiments and parochial interests to trap him into appointing mostly candidates of political grabbers that have been feeding fat on the nation and would rather prefer to maintain the status quo ante than bringing radical change into the polity.
The way to go is to ensure that only qualified men and women of proven integrity, track records and patriotic zeal make the ministerial list irrespective of whether they are technocrats or politicians. He should search thoroughly beyond the political party platforms in order to get the best materials that would help him drive the country towards the path of posterity.
The precarious situation in the nation may not be restored overnight but taking the right step in the right direction by putting the square peg in the square hole, would go a long way in rekindling hope that things would definitely be fine. To achieve effectiveness in the fight against corruption and impunity, President Buhari should get the team that would make it possible for his administration to carry out an extensive restructuring and overhauling of the country’s anti-graft agencies by strengthening them for optimal performance. Most of these agencies, as they are currently constituted, are unable to carry out their duties as expected. Various problems ranging from poor funding, lack of administrative autonomy, deliberate legal encumbrances and lack of political will to punish offenders remain their lot. These challenges should be addressed by the new government.
As we look forward to Buhari’s cabinet list, I would like to appeal to members of the Senate not to fail in carrying out their constitutional duties in the screening of the ministerial nominees. It is common knowledge that since 1999, Senate confirmation hearings have been more of mere formality. At such sessions, our senators have been found to ask pedestrian and not-too-serious questions such as asking for the names of capital cities of states! Some candidates are simply asked to ‘take a bow’ and that it all. This is not how it should be. It is more worrisome to know that nominees’ names are sent for screening without attaching any portfolio to them. How then do they assess the candidates correctly?
As President Buhari takes this crucial decision, he should always remember that the buck stops at his table. As the chief executive, he takes the glory as well as the blame for whatever happens to the nation under his care. His success or otherwise would depend largely on those he appoints as his ministers, special advisers and others. He should never be found wanting in this regard.
SIR: As Nigerians eagerly expect the composition of the ‘change’ cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari, several factors are being speculated influencing the choice of the new ministers. The calibre of ministers, when eventually announced will either soar his popularity rating or cause Nigerians to be cautiously optimistic about the ability of the new administration in ushering change.
If I were the President, the following criteria will guide me in appointing my cabinet ministers. The ideal candidate should have a track record of achievement in previous positions. A cabinet position should not be for green horns, not with the national problems waiting to be surmounted.
These times demand that candidates for ministerial positions should have a banner without stain. People or politicians with proven or suspected cases of abuse of office or misconduct should not have a place in Buhari’s cabinet. We should not have a cabinet nominee that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency would keep under house arrest for past misdeeds.
Ministerial nominees should be subjected to health screening to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo the rigours of the office. Though all of us are human and susceptible to sicknesses, a potential cabinet Minister should not be managing ‘terminal’ disease.
Of course, it is realistic to expect that a cabinet Minister should be someone that the President trusts. The ideal candidate should also believe in the manifesto of the ruling party- the All Progress Congress, as well as patriotically loyal to the Nigerian nation and people.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. There should be a way we of determining the godliness of our potential appointees to cabinet positions, as this is the surest way of determining their moral values. A letter of reference from their Pastor or Imam could be useful. If public officers know that they are representing various constituencies, including their religious communities, there is a likelihood that they will properly comport themselves in office.
In line with the electoral promise of President Buhari, his ministerial nominees should be willing to publicly declare their assets as soon as their nomination is confirmed.
The ‘change’ cabinet should reflect societal diversities, we should have a mixture of the old and new breed, and we should respect gender interests, while vulnerable groups should be represented. It is not out of place to appoint a physically challenged person into the cabinet.
We should have at the minimum, graduates as cabinet ministers. Potential cabinet ministers should have innovative ideas for change. It may not be out of place to even conduct interviews and administer competence tests on potential ministerial nominees. It should not be business as usual, as the APC’s change slogan symbolises.
