President Bola Tinubu, who won the February 25 presidential election and took office almost two months ago, has recently unveiled his ministerial list, which is receiving scrutiny due to its heavy emphasis on politicians rather than technocrats. The list, consisting of 28 nominees, has raised concerns among analysts, who perceive it as predominantly filled with recycled politicians who may aid Tinubu in case of a rerun, but may not be the best choice to lead Nigeria forward during his tenure.
The nominees include several former governors, current and former members of the Senate and House of Representatives, prompting doubts about their ability to actively function in their ministerial roles. Some of the names mentioned include former governors Nyesom Wike, David Umahi, Nasri El-Rufai, and Abubakar Badaru, as well as other figures from various backgrounds.
Among the nominees, 25 percent are women and 75 percent are men. However, there are concerns about the absence of portfolios and the representation of states as mandated by the constitution. Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution requires the President to appoint at least one Minister from each state who is an indigene of that state.
Tinubu had previously stated his commitment to assembling a team based on competence rather than politics, but the current list has sparked criticism from some quarters. Additionally, there are economic challenges facing Nigeria that demand targeted reforms to achieve higher growth rates.
As the President faces pressure to form a capable cabinet while avoiding potential political rifts within the party, there is also a looming nationwide strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in response to the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Despite the challenges, Tinubu has pledged to invest in key sectors such as transportation infrastructure, education, power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities to enhance the quality of life for Nigerians.
Tinubu assured the public that his government would make substantial investments in transportation infrastructure, education, reliable power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities, aiming to improve people’s quality of life.
However, time constraints have become evident in implementing these plans.
For instance, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has scheduled a nationwide strike starting on August 2, 2023.
The NLC expressed its inability to remain passive while Nigerians continue to suffer the consequences of subsidy removal, leading to considerable hardship, despite a court injunction that prohibited the congress from striking in June.
Chris Onyeka, a spokesperson for the NLC, informed BusinessDay that the Federal Government has hindered labor negotiations aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Nigerians due to the removal of petrol subsidies.
According to Onyeka, despite setting up a committee to develop palliatives for workers and citizens, the government hasn’t convened any meetings, leaving labor without any involvement in the decision-making process.
