Since the current administration refused to effect changes in its cabinet (Federal Executive Council) for four years; it has become critical that since its mandate has been renewed, the government has to make hay while the sun shines. In its first term, President Muhammadu Buhari did not name his government for nearly six months. This singular action in many ways presented the new government as that without a sense of urgency or lacking in ideas of what to do.
Critics riled at this seeming lackluster action for a long time. Though not farfetched, some experts blame this delay for the economic downturn that followed.
Consequently, the need for the president to constitute his cabinet quickly, now that the elections are over has become imperative. It is time to turn to the serious issue of governance and use the period of two months remaining until inauguration to pick all members of the new government.
President Buhari must hit the ground running; he must constitute his cabinet quickly. Whether he is keeping some of his ministers or not, however, it goes without saying that injecting fresh blood into FEC is likely to energise government business; so Buhari will do well to give this a serious thought. The critical point is to form his cabinet quickly. In this second and final term, it is expected that the president has a better grasp of things, has learnt from earlier mistakes and therefore be more sure-footed in his actions.
We hope that the president has will to scout the world for competent Nigerians who can help him deliver dividends of democracy to expectant Nigerians who have kept faith with him. And this must be done without prejudice to party, ethnic or religious considerations. Thankfully, the President is not unaware of this as he alluded to it in a speech after winning re-election.
“…But I will assure you I will continue to have a team of people of integrity that are really concerned with Nigeria and Nigerians. I will not disappoint you, our objectives are the same. We have to fix this country so that the next generation can have a country to be proud of.
“We are working very hard to get the infrastructure in place, the roads, and the rails so that Nigerians will mind their own businesses,” President Buhari had said. This is comforting but like we said before, competence has to be a crucial factor in these appointments; thankfully these two elements – competence and integrity – are not mutually exclusive. There are Nigerians from all walks of life who are not only competent but are also of unquestionable integrity.
It is the duty of Buhari to scout for these people and bring them on board. In this regard, we want to recall and commend the diligence of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in appointing highly qualified people into his cabinet. People like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Akinwunmi Adesina (now president of Africa Development Bank) are just some of the technocrats that Jonathan brought into government.
Law enforcement agencies must also carry out extensive checks on ministers and other officials earmarked for extra-ministerial positions. This is to avoid embarrassing situations that government found itself with regards to certain ministers in recent time. No need for cover ups. Security must do its job. Former minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun’s story would have been different if integrity test was conducted during her security clearance. Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, was also caught in the same trap. In Shittu’s case he was alleged to have skipped the national service. His excuse was that having served earlier as a state lawmaker in Oyo State government; he thought that covered for the compulsory service. In spite of this revelation, Shittu is still a member of the Federal Executive Council.
Some questions immediately arise. First, is it that government was unaware of these two situations? Second, what is the role of the Department of State Services, DSS in appointments into key governmental positions?
We cannot emphasise enough the need for DSS to investigate ministerial nominees so that situations like the above can be avoided in future. Dossiers on prospective holders of such positions should be compiled by the DSS and made available to the President without fear or favour-before such key appointments are made. Indeed, President Buhari has a rare chance to change the fortunes of Nigerians and take them to the next level as he promised during his campaign. How early he names his cabinet, the quality of his team and the speed with which they will work will show whether or not there is a next level.
____________________
