News
Ministerial portfolios of ‘square pegs in round holes’
By Ehichioya Ezomon
If some Nigerians were sad about the kind of nominees President Bola Tinubu picked for his cabinet, many more were heavy-hearted over the portfolios assigned to the ministers.
The composition of the cabinet was a mis-match in relation to some of the ministers’ educational and professional attainments and development, and experiences on the job over the years.
Hence Nigerians deployed words, such as depression, despondency, disappointment, discontent, disenchantment, displeasure, dismay, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction, to express their feelings over Tinubu’s allocation of portfolios to the ministers.
The President – touted as the best head-hunter among his peer-governors between 1999 and 2007 – was expected to be different from his predecessors in uninspiring appointments and allocation of portfolios.
Many had hoped Tinubu would bring his famed pedigree of selecting ‘A List’ administrators in Lagos State to bear at the federal level, to tackle the myriad socio-economic problems challenging Nigerians in his under three-month-old government.
Unlike the expeditious removal of petrol subsidy and floating of the Naira that sent prices of goods and services sky-high across all sectors – with the government struggling to provide palliatives to cushion the effects – the ministerial list was late in coming because of the President’s hedging.
Pre-his inauguration on May 29, Tinubu’s presented as single-minded and “uncrackable” under whatever guise. And he lived up to that billing from the primaries through the campaigns and election, and the transition to assuming power.
He topped his “invincibility” with some bold policies on subsidy removals and floating of the Naira. That’s why it’s befuddling that the President hid from lobbyists – “to avoid undue influence” – in rolling out a list of ministers that would satisfy expectations of Nigerians.
Tinubu, speaking through Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central) on July 25, even asked Senators, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Nigerians for prayers, to direct his thoughts and decisions aright.
The President’s words: “Let me tell you, and you must encourage me. I need to make myself unavailable for the next 48 hours because a correspondence must come to the Senate, a very crucial correspondence.
“So, Mr (Senate) President, pray for me. You should tell the rest of Nigerians to pray for me, to be able to make the right decision within the next 24 hours.”
Still, many had thought Tinubu would break with the Nigerian “protocol,” and start to tease up his ministerial nominees piecemeal – along with their portfolios – as is the practice in diverse countries, particularly in the United States.
Before the list gets to Parliament, informed citizens would’ve known and “scrutinised” the nominees for the portfolios to be assigned to them. This aids the work of the legislators in approving the nominees.
Though it creates more drama and anticipation, involement of the public in “vetting” nominees helps to expose their quality in terms of character, capacity, competence and experience, and their fit for designated portfolios.
And it’s easier to get people’s buy-in into government’s policies and programmes if given the chance to assist in shaping the content of the cabinet.
So, delaying, and hoarding the ministerial list that he presented in two batches didn’t seem to help the President – nor meet the expectations of Nigerians – when he submitted the first batch of 28 nominees on July 27 to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
It’s the same yawns and sighs when Tinubu released the second batch of nominees dominated by former Governors, party chieftains and personalities hardly known to Nigerians as capable of delivering on the job.
Nigerians had something to say – positive or negative – about the list. But generally, they gave the President some leeway, hoping he’d rectify observed “anomalies” in the list at the stage of assigning portfolios to the ministers.
But what did Nigerians see when Tinubu allocated portfolios to 45 of 48 ministers? Many classified it as “putting square pegs in round holes,” with some ministers lacking the requisite professionalism, competency and experience!
They argued it wasn’t markedly different from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet – formed after a six-month delay – with the ministers majorly as low picks, resulting in gross failure of many on the job.
Tinubu’s reasons for allocating the respective portfolios, but peruse below and evaluate if the President’s passed his acclaimed head-hunting ability to assemble the “very best” for his cabinet:
Nyesom Wike (Lawyer/Rivers), Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Dave Umahi (Civil Engineer/Ebonyi), Minister of Works. Adegboyega Oyetola (lnsurer/Osun), Minister of Transportation. Mohammed Badaru (Accountant/Jigawa),
Minister of Defence. Bello Matawalle (Teacher/Zamfara), Minister of State, Defence. Atiku Bagudu (Economist/Kebbi), Minister of Budget and Economic Planning. Ibrahim Geidam (Accountant/Yobe), Minister of Police Affairs. Simon Lalong (Lawyer/Plateau), Minister of Labour and Employment.
Wale Edun (Economist/Ogun), Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN (Lawyer/Kwara), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Sa’Idu A. Alkali (Economist/Gombe), Minister of Interior. Yusuf M. Tuggar (Prof.-Int’l Relations/Bauchi), Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ali Pate (Prof.-Medical Doctor/Bauchi), Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Tahir Maman, SAN (Prof.-Lawyer/Adamawa), Minister of Education. Muhammed Idris (English-Media Owner/Niger), Minister of Information and National Orientation Zephaniah Jisalo (Educationist/FCT), Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Govermental Affairs. Festus Keyamo, SAN (Lawyer/Delta), Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Shuaibu A Audu (System Analyst/Kogi), Minister of Steel Development. Doris Anite (Medical Doctor-Financial Expert/Imo), Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. Uche Nnaji (Politician/Enugu), Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. Bunmi Tunji (Electronics-Communications Engineer/Ondo), Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Bosun Tijani Ph.D (Economist-Systems Developer/Lagos), Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Adedayo Adelabu (Accountant/Oyo), Minister of Power. Ahmed M. Dangiwa (Architect/Katsina),
Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
Dele Alake (Pol. Scientist-Journalist Ekiti), Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
Lola Ade-John (Computer-System Analyst/Lagos), Minister of Tourism. Joseph Utsev (Prof.-Civil-Water Engineer/Benue), Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation. Abubakar Kyari (Business Admin/Borno), Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye (Lawyer/Anambra), Minister of Women Affairs. Abubakar Momoh (Civil Engineer/Edo), Minister of Youth. Betta Edu Ph.D (Medical Doctor/Cross River), Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. John Enoh (Pharmacologist/Cross River), Minister of Sports Development. Hannatu Musawa
(Lawyer/Katsina), Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
Yusuf T. Sununu (Medical Doctor/Kebbi), Minister of State, Education. Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Shipper/Abia), Minister of State, Labour and Employment. Ekperikpe Ekpo (Politician/Akwa Ibom), Minister of State, Gas Resources. Heineken Lokpobiri Ph.D (Lawyer/Bayelsa), Minister of State, Petroleum Resources. Abdullahi T. Gwarzo (Textile Engineer/Kano), Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development. Ishak Salako (Medical Doctor/Ogun), Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management.
Tunji Alausa (Medical Doctor/Lagos), Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Vet. Doctor/Niger), Minister of Sta
te, Agriculture and Food Security. Mairiga Mahmoud Ph.D (Lawyer/Kano), Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory. Bello M. Goronyo (Lawyer/Sokoto), Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation. Maigari Ahmadu (Lawyer/Taraba), Minister of State, Steel Development. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (Sociologist/Nasarawa), Minister of State, Police Affairs.
Except three slots – and the Petroleum Resources portfolio – the President’s done with the cabinet. What remains is for the ministers to justify the confidence Tinubu’s reposed in them, and discharge their duties to the expectations of Nigerians!
Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and related agencies to immediately implement the recommendations of a committee formed to address frequent grid collapses.
This is happening as TCN acknowledged potential temporary power disruptions as it begins repair work on the national grid.
The directive followed a recent grid disturbance reported at 11:29 a.m. on Thursday, November 7, caused by a sudden frequency increase from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz.
The TCN reported that recovery efforts were promptly initiated, with power partially restored within minutes in the Abuja region, though work continued in other areas.
Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media, noted that the committee’s recommendations aim to offer lasting solutions for both immediate and long-term grid stability.
TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah confirmed that the agency has begun implementing these recommendations, which involve technical upgrades and strategic repairs across key areas. Ongoing work includes improvements on the 330kV Shiroro–Mando transmission line, significant upgrades at the Jebba Substation, and restoration of the second 330kV Ugwuaji–Apir line.
According to Mbah, while these enhancements are underway, some intermittent power instability may persist.
The TCN has appealed for public understanding during this period, emphasizing that the measures are critical for achieving a stable and reliable power supply across Nigeria.
The TCN reiterated its commitment to minimizing power disruptions and enhancing the grid’s resilience, recognizing the essential role that stable electricity plays in the country’s economic growth.
A fresh wave of fuel scarcity may soon hit Nigeria as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), after its threat of a nationwide strike.
The strike warning followed an alleged military intervention to forcefully remove oil workers from the Oritsetimeyin oil rig, sparking outrage within labor unions.
NLC President Joe Ajaero in a statement released Friday condemned the reported involvement of military personnel, which he described as a breach of labor rights and a threat to the principles of industrial relations. According to Ajaero, the NLC is in total solidarity with NUPENG in its stance against the alleged forced eviction warning that NLC would escalate its response if such incidents continue.
The dispute popped up following a longstanding industrial disagreement between NUPENG and the rig’s management, who allegedly failed to honor contractual agreements concerning worker severance benefits.
NUPENG has criticized the actions of the oil companies involved—Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services, and their labor contractors—for allegedly ignoring legally binding agreements and resorting to what they describe as intimidation tactics.
Earlier in the week, NUPENG filed a petition with the Federal Government to address the conflict, expressing alarm over the deployment of armed forces.
Despite this, it is reported that a special naval unit was flown to the Oritsetimeyin rig on Thursday to eject workers, prompting NUPENG to threaten a nationwide shutdown if the government does not intervene.
In response, Ajaero highlighted the destabilizing effects of military involvement in workplace matters, which he said could damage an already fragile economy and violate workers’ rights.
“We cannot accept the militarization of our workplaces,” he stated, calling on the Nigerian military, the National Security Adviser, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to uphold labor statutes and prevent further harassment of union members.
The NLC also stressed the importance of keeping industrial disputes out of the military’s purview, urging authorities to allow peaceful negotiations to run their course.
“This matter is strictly an industrial relations issue,” Ajaero emphasized, urging the government to protect workers’ rights to fair negotiation without coercion.
With fuel scarcity on the horizon, Nigerians may face disruptions if the strike goes forward, impacting businesses, transportation, and day-to-day activities across the nation.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja. Describing Lagbaja as a “fine, committed, and dedicated officer,” Akpabio praised the late military leader for his unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s security and unity, even at great personal risk.
In a statement by his special assistant on Media Jackson Udom, Akpabio shared that he was shocked by the news, having recently spoken with Lagbaja, who had been optimistic about his return to office.
The Senate President remarked on the significant loss Lagbaja’s death represents for Nigeria, particularly in the nation’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity.
“On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I commiserate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the military community, and the Lagbaja family on this great loss,” Akpabio said.
He extended prayers for strength and comfort to Lagbaja’s family, friends, and colleagues and wished for the late officer’s soul to find peace in Aljanah Firdaus.
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