President Muhammadu Buhari’s is likely to appoint ministers in the next few weeks as the new administration seeks to come to grip with what its officials claim as the rot it inherited.
Insiders in the new government claim that this is due to the acute state of affairs of government finances and resources. It was also disclosed that President Buhari would in the next few days take very painful decisions akin to “pulling off the tooth” of a man without painkillers.
A source close to the president, who made these known to reporters at the weekend, spoke in reference to assertions of the president’s slow take-off as reflected in the failure to appoint key actors of government.
The source dismissed suggestions that the activities of government had been crippled on account of the failure to appoint ministers as a blackmail by politicians keen to get into the pie.
Noting what it referred to as a clearly putrid inheritance, the source said Buhari was very determined not to build his government on a “very rotten foundation.”
“You cannot even begin to imagine the situation we have met on the ground,” the source who has unfettered access to the president and is one of those presently working with him behind the scenes said.
“Almost everything is in a state of decay. There is absolutely no way the new government can hope to achieve anything long-lasting without first building a new foundation.”
Giving an indication of the likelihood of the president taking some very hard decisions to salvage the country, the source who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity said:
“President Buhari’s plan of action will be likened to that of a doctor who first has to break a poorly set bone afresh, before resetting it to allow for smooth and proper growth.”
Responding to criticism that the president failed to make good use of the period after the election and even one month after his inauguration to put shape to his government, the source said it would be difficult to appoint personnel to offices that no one for now knows would exist or be scrapped.
President to cut down the number of ministries
“The president plans to cut down the number of ministries and parastatals. He wants to cut down the cost of running government. He wants to make sure that all the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive are blocked. All these are procedures that require time and careful planning. You cannot do it in a rush.”
The source noted that the president could not have initiated the reforms without recourse to the Ahmed Joda report which he received only on June 12, 2015.
“Remember that he has to make sure that all this is done without any job losses or mass retrenchments,” he said. “All this is not a day’s or one-month job.”
Rebuffing suggestions that the activities of government have been grounded by the failure to appoint ministers, the close associate of the president described it as an act of blackmail from politicians including those from the president’s All Progressives Congress, APC, who want to be fast-tracked into government.
“All these reports and agitations are being fuelled by politicians who want to put pressure on the President,” he said. “They have tried doing it other ways and those haven’t worked. Now, they are trying to use the media. They only want their cronies appointed to ministerial posts anyhow, and they are fuelling the agitation through newspapers.”
The source also noted the crisis in the National Assembly and the adjournment of the Senate till July 21 as another reason why ministers may not be appointed in the next few weeks.
“Look at how they are fighting among themselves. The Senate has now adjourned till July 21. That means no one to scrutinise or approve any ministerial list until the end of July”, he siad.
Tasked on the statement by the president of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki that the Senate would reconvene to screen ministerial nominees whenever called upon, the source gave the inclination that the president would soon intervene in the crisis that has split the APC caucus in the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“The President wants to walk his talk on stable politics and being a leader for all, he has a plan for the National Assembly .”
Asked to react to the assertions, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Garba Shehu said the account of the president not being in a hurry to appoint ministers until he was set was very correct. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Four weeks plus another eight weeks! What is the degree and severity of this rot? I think the government should let us into what they met on the ground.
ReplyDeleteIf General Mohammad Buhari can single handedly clear the rot the country in the next eight weeks, then we don't need ministers. But I think he needs his ministers to actually solve this rot. Except if there is something that they are not telling us.
I think we should first ask ourselves: What exactly in governance has stalled because ministers have not been appointed? The real work horse of governance is the civil service with its career professionals headed by the Permanent Secretaries. Ministers are political appointees whose mandate is to translate Federal policies into action at ministry level. The president has to first come out with the key policies - which will be largely informed by what he met on ground. Let's remember that he did not have his handover notes from PDP until 4 days to his being sworn in.
DeleteSo I would say, Nigerians should relax. The ministers are not as critical to governance as we want to think!
Please lets talk about Kano state issue consing christian.... why should Kano state extend there sanitation on Sunday and we still talking about change change ?? APC
Delete@annonymous 29/6/14 7:23 am
DeleteYou talked about president Mohammad Buhari coming out with key policies before he can employ his ministers. Please answer these questions 1. Are you saying uptil now Mr president doesn't have any policy on ground? 2. Is Mr president an all knowing president to mashal out policy for all the ministry? 3. How would the ministers bring alive a vision they are not part of?
APC is just the old PDP under new flag...mtscheew, keep clearing, if the broom no work, try shovel or even umbrella
ReplyDeletePlease lets talk about Kano state issue consing christian.... why should Kano state extend there sanitation on Sunday and we still talking about change change ?? APC
ReplyDeleteYou are a big fool Anonymous, when pdp were postponing the general elections did you not support them. So almost everything will be affected by that unwarranted postponement.
ReplyDeleteAnyway non of you can stamped Mr. PMB to do anything. A retired general for that matter.
You better get it on your heads that PMB did not buy his certificate, very unlike Ebele Jonathan.
I pity mostly youth DAT is killing there self in media,because of politicians who is busy running there busines. it high time u pple learn to undstand DAT Nigerian can only be gud when citizens learn to demostrat when tins is not flowing well.4 dis ones day ar desame
ReplyDeleteMinisters or no Ministers, the country will continue to move forward! Keep in mind that Ministers are political appointees on like the civil servants. I encourage our civil servants to display high level supports for the President by doing their best in the discharge of their duties. The civil servants should shun bribery and corruption and face the reality of the day; which means be honest and be committed to your duties. As a matter of fact, the Nigerians populace will give supports and recognition to our civil servants if they prove to be responsible. Let the President do his best by utilizing the knowledge of the civil servants. A well coordinated Permanent Secretary should be able to perform better than a politically appointed Minister. Let Nigeria save the money that would ordinarily go to the Ministers! Nigeria can do without Ministers. The roles of politicians should end at both the Senate and the National Assembly. President Buari, please do not listen to these thieves and hooligans. As a former Military General, display your discipline honourably and let your conscience be fully satisfied.
ReplyDelete