The ministers should work hard and give meaning to the ‘change’ agenda
After much suspense, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated his much-awaited cabinet last Wednesday with sparks of surprises. Against the recently expressed opinion that some of the ministers would not have portfolios since the constitution only prescribed 36 ministers and not necessarily 36 ministries, all the ministers were allocated ministries.
It is however remarkable that the number of ministries which previously stood at 28 has now been compressed to 24. Ministries like Culture and Tourism, Special Duties, Sports, Police Affairs, Lands and Urban Development have now been swallowed by other related ministries. This is in line with President Buhari’s earlier position on the need to prune down recurrent government expenditure. The allocation of portfolios to the new ministers has also shown that President Buhari is hardly predictable by proving wrong practically all bookmakers on how the ministries would be allocated to the nominees, given the known pedigrees of some of the then nominees.
In his remark at the swearing-in ceremony, President Buhari had made a point about putting round pegs in round holes in order to achieve maximum performance of the ministers. Most people believe the president has delivered on that score and what remains is for the team to get to work. Like footballers, the cabinet members must now work together like a team with the common goal of delivering democratic dividends to the Nigerian masses, if nothing else to prove to the Nigerian people that the campaign promises were not mere propaganda vibes.
As we highlighted in a recent editorial, in a democratic dispensation, the cabinet is the engine room of the governing process and with its composition, it is hoped that the Buhari administration will now move quickly into action. Today, the socio-economic challenges are legion. Many Nigerians are increasingly agitated about lack of jobs and poor infrastructure for power supply, roads, healthcare, and pipe-borne water. The increasing decline in allocations from the Federation Account is clearly suggestive of the present state of the economy. An estimated 125 million people live below the poverty line while insecurity is all pervasive.
Therefore, addressing the nation’s many ills and the growing inequalities will depend on how much the new ministers act and perform. Fortunately, more than a few of them come with impeccable credentials. They are men and women who had been chosen for their brilliance, knowledge, professionalism and record of service. None of the ministers should therefore be in any doubt about the magnitude of the responsibility that lies before them.
The Buhari administration had come to office with great expectation from the Nigerian electorate. With a campaign that was predicated on change, Nigerians are eager to experience the change. The ministers, indeed, will be the agents and purveyors of the promised change. And they must work collectively as a team to lift the country that has been underperforming in almost all areas, and wean it of over-dependence on oil.
Surely, the malaise that characterised the previous administrations, like abuse of office, profligacy, impunity and outright stealing of public funds amongst others, must be done away with. Nigerians will expect from the Buhari team, a breath of fresh air, one that will rekindle hope on the Nigerian project. They must therefore hit the ground running, not only to recover the lost time spent in searching for them, but also to reassure Nigerians that the administration is sensitive to their pains and will work to heal their wounds.
In all, the success or failure of the Buhari administration will depend largely on how well the new ministers respond to the duties and tasks before them. Having answered the call to serve, they must be seen to be serving diligently and creditably. We congratulate them on their new assignments.
