President Muhammadu Buhari has been pressured to effect changes in the current cabinet even as the first tenure gradually winds down. In this piece, BODE OLAGOKE, AYONI M. AGBABIAKA, JOHN MOSES and ADEOLA TUKURU, examine how some of the ministers have fared.
Despite calls that he should re-oil and re-jig his cabinet to spice up the performance of his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has yet to oblige what seems to have become a popular if not common request on the president. In fact, the first tenure is almost coming to an end but the president has religiously and generously kept his cabinet intact. Apart from few members of the cabinet that voluntarily resigned or forced by nature to do so, the president has retained his ministers perhaps unmindful of their performances.
It is, however, obvious that some members of the ruling party, evidently critics of the administration and of course Nigerians are of different views as regards the performances of some of these ministers. While some may be excused, Nigerians wouldn’t want others in the journey of Next Level.
In no particularly order, we take a look at the performances of the ministers including some of their obvious undoing:
Minister of Labour and Employment
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, may have done his best as a cabinet member under President Muhammadu Buhari. To his credit, history will not forget the role he played in the latest N30,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Although, many in the labour sector believe he is not a good arbitrator using the parameter of the many of avoidable industrial actions embarked upon by trade unions in the period under his watch. In fact, many think his arrogance and obvious disconnect with the people directly impacted negatively on his relationship with the trade unions.
When Blueprint sought the opinion of one of the labour leaders who pleaded anonymity, he said “I can’t really point out any achievement of the current minister of labour and employment Dr Chris Ngige. Though he may have put in his best effort but it seems obvious his best may not have been enough. But I don’t think he should be re-appointed by Buhari.
“Buhari should as a matter of utmost importance appoints some individuals who mean well, and not the kind of ministers who appeared to have been anti workers, and who tended to like to hear their own voices during negotiation for a new minimum wage.”
On the political front, many have asked the president to not consider Abuja politicians who talk so loudly in Abuja but clearly have no solid grassroots base at home. They pointed to someone like Dr Ngige that could not deliver his state Anambra to the APC in the last general elections. These elements, who know they can’t command the respect of the electorate and therefore can’t really win any form of election, would always foment trouble just to ensure that no election holds in their domain.
“Even when elections are held they would rather accused the home-based politicians with deep connection with the grassroots of rigging than admit their failure. The likes of Ngige talk more about how the opposition elements rigged election than what efforts they really had made to connect with the people.”
Minister of Transportation
For the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, his ministry is one of the major achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last three and half years.
Although, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan laid solid foundation for the rail project, credit must be given to Ameachi for sustaining it. He had no choice given the direction of the Buhari government as far as transportation is concerned.
For example, the blind can easily be told of Lagos to Kano rail project, which has since commenced operation, Itakpe – Ajaokuta- Warri railway and Abuja-Kaduna rail services, which have brought relief to those plying the route. He has also introduced solar-powered tricycles and motorcycles into the Nigerian transport system.
Ameachi is currently proposing $8bn double gauge rail line, expected to pass through Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Niger, Kaduna to Kano. In all of these, his critics believe that Ameachi’s ministry has successfully sidelined the South-east and the South-south where he hails from substantially.
Again, not much is also said about his achievements in water transportation system.
Politically, Ameachi’s ego caused his party, the APC substantial electoral defeat in Rivers and some have suspected that he deliberately created problems to avoid being demystified. In 2015, he did same thing by deliberately ensuring elections were not held even as he declared that the PDP administration, which he was a key figure as speaker of the state assembly for eight years and eventually governor for eight years, performed abysmally.
Despite the failure to generate need support for the president, Amaechi by virtue of being the director general of Buhari Campaign Organisation, seems to be in the A list of the Next Level likely ministers.
Minister of Mines and Steel
The current minister overseeing the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Hon Bawa Bwari, assumed the position same time with his then senior counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, who was appointed the minister of mines and steel development, while Bwari got the portfolio of the minister of state.
Remarkably, a lot of attention could be said to have been given to the ministry by the Buhari-led administration as the federal government seeks ways to boost the dwindling oil money through the diversification of the economy. The mining sector therefore has been a main focus on the drive to up the revenue accruable to the country from non-oil sources.
The team of Kayode Fayemi and Bawa Bwari was a formidable as several policies and initiatives were developed and deployed to harness the massive wealth hidden in the mining sector.
The ministry’s annual revenue base rose from N700 million to N2 billion in no time. To boost efforts to secure the resource base, procurement of Hilux vehicles for states to drive the surveillance and monitoring of mining sites across the country came into play. It was to forestall the lingering activities of illegal miners. Policies mean to incorporate Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM) into cooperatives, the compilation of the mining roadmap and the constitution of a committee of Mining Implementation Strategy Team (MIST) which is supposed to oversee the implementation of the roadmap was amongst the many structures put in place to drive the mining sector.
However, not much is actually happening at the ministry since the former minister Kayode Fayemi sought higher political engagement and has since emerged the current governor of Ekiti state. Though the policies are still in place, the current minister of state, Bawa Bwari seems to have lost the vim to sustain the drive and make real impact.
Minister of Communication
Barrister Adebayo Shittu heads the ministry communication. He is no doubt a good friend of the president. He is honest and very religious but under his watch, controversies have reigned supreme: the MTN scandal and other needles crises that tended to have cast the ministry in bad light.
The Oyo state-born politician, who sought the governorship ticket of his party, admitted to have skipped participating in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme after he finished Law School in 1979. He said he was elected a member of the Oyo state House of Assembly after law school, so he skipped the NYSC because being a “Honourable member” is already service to fatherland.
To this end, so many people within and outside the APC have called on the president to reconsider retain Shittu of his appointment if the administration’s vision and mission in the ICT and modern communication technology must be attained. Therefore, the journey to the Next Level might be an opportunity to exclude the Saki born politician.
Minister of Interior
Abdulrahman Dambazau heads the ministry saddled with the responsibility of ensuring internal security but even with a bird-view insight one may be excused to say no part of the country could boast of 80 percent level of internal peace and security.
This is a ministry with Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and the Federal Fire Service (FFS) but the country has witnessed kidnappings like never before, banditry has suddenly become a very lucrative venture, killings of all kinds seem to have free reign. Add these to the escalating incidences activities of hoodlums, thuggery, herdsmen and farmers’ crises, among others the picture that emerges is that of a nation that is so poorly secured.
To some Nigerians, Dambazau has only been effective in declaring public holidays and close of borders during elections.
Politically, Dambazau comes from Kano state. A state where the president has always got his highest votes and the efforts of people like Dambazau is insignificant. He is also considered to be a member of the inner caucus to the president.
So, analysts are of the opinion that if Dambazau will not be shown the way out, but may have to be reassigned to another portfolio, if his real talent is to blossom.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing
Babatunde Raji Fashola- the man in charge of three powerful ministries weaved into one- power, works and housing. He seems to be one of the most powerful ministers in the Buhari’s administration. No doubt, Fashola performed very well as governor in Lagos state. Even as minister Nigerians could see roads and bridges and ongoing constructions. It may not be enough but some things are happening. He’s also claimed to have added value to power but Nigerians will be the judge.
Fashola’s popular statement has now come to hunt him. He was reportedly quoted as saying “any government that cannot fix electricity problem within six months has no business in governance.” If true, how come the Lagos state born minister hasn’t fixed it?
It has, however, been recommended that if Fashola will be retained in the Next Level journey, he should not be allowed to oversee three powerful ministries like Works, Power and Housing. In fact, the ministries should be separated.
Minister of Agriculture
Chief Audu Ogbe is no doubt the oldest and most experienced minister in the current administration. The Benue-born former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in the corridor of power for close to 40 years. He is a farmer. No doubt he has introduced some policies but whether those policies are working is another question.
Chief Ogbe has excuses for every failure. Up till now Nigeria is yet to attain food sufficiency, yam exportation though loudly applauded in the estimation of some persons has withered therefore a failure. Analysts believe perhaps the old man having his dues should be allowed to be at the sideline and play an advisory role to an energetic young man or woman with more proactive passion for the sector.
Minister of state for Petroleum
Although, President Muhammadu Buhari is the senior minister in the sector but Dr Ibe Kacchukwu has been the one doing all the work. To Kachukwu’s credit, Nigerians no longer spend hours at the filling stations to buy fuel but the minister has failed to fulfill his promise that if Nigeria still imports fuel by 2019 he will resign. Has Nigeria stopped importing fuel? May be 2019 is still on the way.
The thinking of Nigerians is that the president should excuse himself from the position of ‘senior minister’ of the ministry that way he could wield the big stick against non-performing minister and spare himself any share in a failed process. Besides, perhaps appointing a function full-flesh minister and empowered with the necessary powers and authority could help the ministry.
Minister of Niger Delta
Pastor Usani Usani to some extent has been able to curb the problem of unrest by the Niger Delta militants. Pipelines seem to be saved now than before. Although the region is still complaining of underdevelopment bearing in mind that oil, which is the major source of the country’s income is there, the minister seems to have been bereft of initiatives to bring respite to the people.
May he would be better focused planning to be the next governor of Cross River state in 2023 if he begins now to build the needed bridges across the three senatorial districts. Attempt to do that ahead of the just concluded 2019 general elections may have been a serious distraction and could continue should he remains in the cabinet.
Even then, Usani’s major challenge of being considered to be part of the Next Level cabinet will be his own kinsmen within the APC.
Minister of Information
There is doubt Alhaji Lai Muhammed is qualified and he has done his best to promote the APC government within and outside Nigeria. He has also introduced some programmes to lift the face of Culture and Art in the country but his challenge is whether Nigerians believe whatever he says.
Politically, Lai through the O to ge mantra was able to lead his party to victory in Kwara state, the state that was in opposition before the just concluded elections.
The former APC national publicity secretary is seen as a propagandist. Nigerians no longer trust his approach. Therefore, observers believe that Lai Muhammed’s portfolio should be changed in the Next Level.
Minister of Science and Technology
Dr Ogbonnayan Onu is no doubt a loyal party founding father. He has done his best as Minister of Science and Technology but the ministry requires an expert as the minister not a loyal party fellow and a much older at that.
At this age and time, Chief Ogbonayan’s promise that Nigeria will start producing pencil by year 2019 has not been achieved. The soft spoken and charismatic Ebonyi chief should therefore serve well as an ambassador instead of a minister in the Next Level.
FCT Minister
Calm and cool headed Mohammad Bello is the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). To his credit, cases of land racketeering and scandal have not risen since he assumed office compare to the era of former occupiers of the same juicy ministry.
But unfortunately Abuja is fast becoming a safe haven for criminals. Car snatching, armed robbery, “one-chance operations”, and other criminalities have become very common. The noticeable insecurity is compounded by non-functional streetlights. At night, darkness envelops the city giving cover to criminals to operate unchecked.
Besides, Bello seems elitist going by his alleged refusal to lift a finger to improve infrastructures in the satellite towns. Roads and essential infrastructures are negligibly absent and the FCDA that he heads exits only the figment of some persons.
If the Bello will make it as minister to the Next Level, he should be encouraged to up his game because FCT is the seat of power.
Minister of Trade and Investment
Okechukwu Enelamah is Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. He prides himself as a technocrat and not a politician but his ministry has not been able to bring in many investments to the benefit of the country. True, the high level of insecurity in the country might be a challenge to attract investors, but some tangible things ought to have been done to attest to one’s seriousness.
Enelamah’s kinsmen and the Abia chapter of APC have called on the president not to reconsider him in the Next Level journey. He has accused of not doing enough for the party. The minister should know that if the APC is not in power he wouldn’t be minister.
Analysts have also said that President Buhari’s Next Level journey should bring on board those that have worked and have results to show for their efforts. They think he should do more than reshuffle his team, but give serious consideration to expertise and look beyond party affiliation to select individuals with the knack to deliver.
