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President Muhammadu Buhari on 11th November, 2015 assigned portfolios to 36 ministers who are expected to implement his ‘change’ agenda The President explained that the Ministers are 'square pegs in square holes',, and added that the members of his team were carefully chosen and assigned portfolios to reflect their capacities.
A year down the lane, after the appointment, many of the ministries under these ministers haven't fared well, while some of the ministers are even not in the limelight. The situation things has made it conclusive that some of these ministers are technically unfit for some of the ministries they were posted to, and have continued to make blunders and have become stumbling blocks to the administrations ‘change’ agenda.
Nigerian Bulletin makes a compilation of some of these Ministers in 2016.
1. Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola: Babatunde Raji Fashola was known for his versatility and hardwork when he was the governor of Lagos state. But, shortly after his appointment as the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Fashola seems overburdened with the pressure of the three giant ministries that he hasn't really delivered in any of the ministries. Power generation in the country has degenerated than he met it.
2. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu: There were several calls by Nigerians for President Buhari to sack Adamu. More specifically, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack him because he is insensitive and lacks commitment to reversing the dwindling Nigerian education sector. ASUU added that Mr Adamu failed to engage with the union on its repeated demands and correspondences. Also, a non-governmental organisation, Concerned Citizens for Educational Development, CCED, decried some of the recent actions and policies of the Ministerwhich it claimed were impacting negatively on the education sector.
3. Minister of Youths and Sports; Solomon Dalung: The red-beret Minister has throughout the year been in the eye of the storm. It is of the incapacity of a minister to man the Nigeria Sports Ministry, despite giant strides in various sports. Under him, Nigerian athletes have been disappointed, embarrassed on various occasions, with inaction and disparaging comments from him. Ranging from inability of the Nation's team to fly to various competitions owing to visa issues; non-payment of allowances, and all. The latest of his controversies being the non-payment of allowances to the Super Falcons after AWCON win.
4. Minister of Industry, Trade And Investment; Okechukwu Enelemah: Trade and Investment should be rescue options for a country plunged in economic recession. Little seems to have been done by the Minister to salvage the situation, with several industries folding up, investors running away, and stringent trading options.
5. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Usani Uguru: The continued crisis rocking the Delta region, coupled with the blasts of oil installations have not been greeted with proactive measures from Mr. Uguru. In a Spetember 2016 report published by Sahara Reporters, Mr. Uguru Usani, was indicted for fraud and abuse of office during his tenure as a commissioner in Cross River State. Usani along with a firm, Gersh Henshaw & Company, defrauded the government of about N16m through a contract for the valuation of the assets of an agency under his ministry.
6. Minister of Women Affairs; Aisha Alhassan: Taraba-born Senator Alhassan was away from her ministerial duty for a number of times due to ill-health. Media reported that Alhassan underwent orthopaedic treatment in the United States of America. Being away for too long should have been enough motivation for Alhassan to hit the ground running as soon as she returned. But Mama Taraba has not fared well on Women issues this year.
7. Minister of Finance; Kemi Adeosun. There have been so many calls this year for President Mohammadu Buhari to relieve Ms. Kemi Adeosun of her ministerial duty as the nation's economy has not fared well under her watch. It can be stressed that even though the country is in recession, the situation would not have been worse off if the economy has been better managed.
8. Minister of Transport; Rotimi Amaechi: Throughout this year, Nigerians cannot differentiate if Rotimi Amaechi is the former governor of River states or a Federal Minister. The manner at which he meddles in his state politics make it worrisome of its continued service as a Minister. Also, Amaechi this year was accused of gross-corruption.
9. Minister of Information and Culture: Lai Mohammed: Nigerians said that Mohammed has established himself as an instrument of cheap propaganda and disinformation. He has stationed himself as a tool of the government to speak in favour of what, in real sense of things are not. He is a specialist in image laundering; he has refused to move on from the days of political campaigns. His public statements have done nothing, but dent the public image of the Buhari administration. He speaks on every issue, even though he does not have the right information, he would always speak. He has continued to blame the previous government for the failures of the Buhari administration. He once said the 2016 budget was not padded, whereas the President admitted that his budget was padded. Many believe the former spokesperson of the APC would be more productive if he returns as the spokesperson of his party. Every time the minister speaks, Nigerians call for his immediate resignation.
10. Minster of Communications; Adebayo Shittu: The controversy that surrounded the MTN fine exposed the lack of managerial qualities of the Minister of Communications. The problem trailing the role of the Ministry in the out-of-court settlement by MTN Nigeria, and its payment of N50 billion to the Federal Government still remains unaddressed. For over one year in office, the only ideas coming out of the Ministry is tax improvement on various telecommunications and not quality of services or abnormal messages chunk out of the telecommunication. The Minister's shortcoming include the introduction of taxes on phone calls, text messages and data tariff hike while telecom operators are yet to develop their bandwidth as well as improve quality of service for the end users. The minister of communications seems to be finding it difficult with his current portfolio.
11. Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello (FCT): The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was throughout the year 'absent' in power. Since he assumed office, it has been complaints in the FCT, as many residents ask if there is a Minister in the nation's capital. Under Bello's watch, the city is returning back to its pre-El-Rufai days, when chaos was the order of the day. The minister is however a very popular face in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport as he is always bidding President Buhari goodbye to his numerous foreign trips and welcoming him back too.
12. Prof. Omole Daramola; Minister of State, Niger Delta: A distinguished academic, Professor Daramola has struggled to hold down his own in a ministry that has been largely sidelined since President Buhari assumed office. To make matters worse, the senior minister in the ministry, Usani Uguru, is not pulling his weight effectively in a region he is supposed to supervise, leaving Daramola in a dire situation.
13. Aisha Abubakar: Minister of State; Trade, Industry and Investment It was rumoured that she got her appointment because she is the daughter of former permanent secretary and finance minister, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, who is the current Sardauna of Sokoto. She is the junior minister to Okechukwu Enelamah, one of the few technocrats brought into the government by President Buhari. She is only visible when there is a federal government delegation to visit a place. Much is not known about her past, but she has been described severally by the media as an 'international banker'.
14. Mrs Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Budget and National Planning (State): Although she distinguished herself as the former executive secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs Ahmed's appointment was reportedly influenced by Governor Nasir El-Rufai who some media reports alleged is related to the minister. Even at the height of the budget scandal that almost brought the delayed the 2016 budget, Mrs Ahmed was no where to be found and was never visible in public despite the media siege.
15. Honourable Bawa Bwari Abubakar; Minister of Solid Minerals (State): A formidable politician, Abubakar is a former chief whip of the House of Representatives. He is one of the junior ministers whose visibility has been drowned by the senior minister in the ministry. In his case, he is contending with one of Nigeria's finest gentleman and politician, Mr Olukayode Fayemi, whose competence and commitment is never in doubt. Another reason why Abubakar might be struggling to make his mark, is the unique ministry he finds himself. A ministry with enormous challenges and requires a thoroughbred professional to handle its affairs.
A year down the lane, after the appointment, many of the ministries under these ministers haven't fared well, while some of the ministers are even not in the limelight. The situation things has made it conclusive that some of these ministers are technically unfit for some of the ministries they were posted to, and have continued to make blunders and have become stumbling blocks to the administrations ‘change’ agenda.
Nigerian Bulletin makes a compilation of some of these Ministers in 2016.
1. Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola: Babatunde Raji Fashola was known for his versatility and hardwork when he was the governor of Lagos state. But, shortly after his appointment as the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Fashola seems overburdened with the pressure of the three giant ministries that he hasn't really delivered in any of the ministries. Power generation in the country has degenerated than he met it.
2. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu: There were several calls by Nigerians for President Buhari to sack Adamu. More specifically, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack him because he is insensitive and lacks commitment to reversing the dwindling Nigerian education sector. ASUU added that Mr Adamu failed to engage with the union on its repeated demands and correspondences. Also, a non-governmental organisation, Concerned Citizens for Educational Development, CCED, decried some of the recent actions and policies of the Ministerwhich it claimed were impacting negatively on the education sector.
3. Minister of Youths and Sports; Solomon Dalung: The red-beret Minister has throughout the year been in the eye of the storm. It is of the incapacity of a minister to man the Nigeria Sports Ministry, despite giant strides in various sports. Under him, Nigerian athletes have been disappointed, embarrassed on various occasions, with inaction and disparaging comments from him. Ranging from inability of the Nation's team to fly to various competitions owing to visa issues; non-payment of allowances, and all. The latest of his controversies being the non-payment of allowances to the Super Falcons after AWCON win.
4. Minister of Industry, Trade And Investment; Okechukwu Enelemah: Trade and Investment should be rescue options for a country plunged in economic recession. Little seems to have been done by the Minister to salvage the situation, with several industries folding up, investors running away, and stringent trading options.
5. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Usani Uguru: The continued crisis rocking the Delta region, coupled with the blasts of oil installations have not been greeted with proactive measures from Mr. Uguru. In a Spetember 2016 report published by Sahara Reporters, Mr. Uguru Usani, was indicted for fraud and abuse of office during his tenure as a commissioner in Cross River State. Usani along with a firm, Gersh Henshaw & Company, defrauded the government of about N16m through a contract for the valuation of the assets of an agency under his ministry.
6. Minister of Women Affairs; Aisha Alhassan: Taraba-born Senator Alhassan was away from her ministerial duty for a number of times due to ill-health. Media reported that Alhassan underwent orthopaedic treatment in the United States of America. Being away for too long should have been enough motivation for Alhassan to hit the ground running as soon as she returned. But Mama Taraba has not fared well on Women issues this year.
7. Minister of Finance; Kemi Adeosun. There have been so many calls this year for President Mohammadu Buhari to relieve Ms. Kemi Adeosun of her ministerial duty as the nation's economy has not fared well under her watch. It can be stressed that even though the country is in recession, the situation would not have been worse off if the economy has been better managed.
8. Minister of Transport; Rotimi Amaechi: Throughout this year, Nigerians cannot differentiate if Rotimi Amaechi is the former governor of River states or a Federal Minister. The manner at which he meddles in his state politics make it worrisome of its continued service as a Minister. Also, Amaechi this year was accused of gross-corruption.
9. Minister of Information and Culture: Lai Mohammed: Nigerians said that Mohammed has established himself as an instrument of cheap propaganda and disinformation. He has stationed himself as a tool of the government to speak in favour of what, in real sense of things are not. He is a specialist in image laundering; he has refused to move on from the days of political campaigns. His public statements have done nothing, but dent the public image of the Buhari administration. He speaks on every issue, even though he does not have the right information, he would always speak. He has continued to blame the previous government for the failures of the Buhari administration. He once said the 2016 budget was not padded, whereas the President admitted that his budget was padded. Many believe the former spokesperson of the APC would be more productive if he returns as the spokesperson of his party. Every time the minister speaks, Nigerians call for his immediate resignation.
10. Minster of Communications; Adebayo Shittu: The controversy that surrounded the MTN fine exposed the lack of managerial qualities of the Minister of Communications. The problem trailing the role of the Ministry in the out-of-court settlement by MTN Nigeria, and its payment of N50 billion to the Federal Government still remains unaddressed. For over one year in office, the only ideas coming out of the Ministry is tax improvement on various telecommunications and not quality of services or abnormal messages chunk out of the telecommunication. The Minister's shortcoming include the introduction of taxes on phone calls, text messages and data tariff hike while telecom operators are yet to develop their bandwidth as well as improve quality of service for the end users. The minister of communications seems to be finding it difficult with his current portfolio.
11. Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello (FCT): The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was throughout the year 'absent' in power. Since he assumed office, it has been complaints in the FCT, as many residents ask if there is a Minister in the nation's capital. Under Bello's watch, the city is returning back to its pre-El-Rufai days, when chaos was the order of the day. The minister is however a very popular face in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport as he is always bidding President Buhari goodbye to his numerous foreign trips and welcoming him back too.
12. Prof. Omole Daramola; Minister of State, Niger Delta: A distinguished academic, Professor Daramola has struggled to hold down his own in a ministry that has been largely sidelined since President Buhari assumed office. To make matters worse, the senior minister in the ministry, Usani Uguru, is not pulling his weight effectively in a region he is supposed to supervise, leaving Daramola in a dire situation.
13. Aisha Abubakar: Minister of State; Trade, Industry and Investment It was rumoured that she got her appointment because she is the daughter of former permanent secretary and finance minister, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, who is the current Sardauna of Sokoto. She is the junior minister to Okechukwu Enelamah, one of the few technocrats brought into the government by President Buhari. She is only visible when there is a federal government delegation to visit a place. Much is not known about her past, but she has been described severally by the media as an 'international banker'.
14. Mrs Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Budget and National Planning (State): Although she distinguished herself as the former executive secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs Ahmed's appointment was reportedly influenced by Governor Nasir El-Rufai who some media reports alleged is related to the minister. Even at the height of the budget scandal that almost brought the delayed the 2016 budget, Mrs Ahmed was no where to be found and was never visible in public despite the media siege.
15. Honourable Bawa Bwari Abubakar; Minister of Solid Minerals (State): A formidable politician, Abubakar is a former chief whip of the House of Representatives. He is one of the junior ministers whose visibility has been drowned by the senior minister in the ministry. In his case, he is contending with one of Nigeria's finest gentleman and politician, Mr Olukayode Fayemi, whose competence and commitment is never in doubt. Another reason why Abubakar might be struggling to make his mark, is the unique ministry he finds himself. A ministry with enormous challenges and requires a thoroughbred professional to handle its affairs.
