By Chukwudi Nweje
Assistant Editor
Some commentators argue that a year on in the job, ministers have not come up to scratch; not even Babatunde Fashola, from whom much is expected as power, works, and housing minister based on his assumed sterling performance as Lagos governor for eight years.
President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29, 2015 but said he delayed forming his cabinet till November 11, 2015 because he was searching for men and women who did not compromise their integrity in previous public assignments.
Political scientist, lawyer, and public affairs analyst, Adebayo Adeolu; and Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN Foundation) National Coordinator, Okechukwu Nwanguma; both insisted the ministers have not delivered on the expectation of Nigerians.
They told TheNiche in Lagos that there is no marked improvement in the state of affairs since ministers were appointed.
Both noted that electricity supply improved marginally in some areas when the administration came on board but there has been a relapse.
They gave the administration a pass mark on security and the war against terror, where they observed that there is a major improvement.
But Adeolu said the government has not mapped out any clear economic direction and is operating an exchange rate policy that has caused more hardship.
His words: “The one-year period of Buhari’s ministers has not been favourable to Nigerians because the government is operating an economic policy that is not favourable to an import dependent country like Nigeria, where manufacture and production of finished goods and products are low.
“The one-year period has been affected by the crisis in the Niger Delta region. The cut in crude oil production has not triggered an oil price hike because America, our one-time biggest buyer, has looked inwards to save and also to weaken Arab and Middle East countries since they divert many of the proceeds into terror organisations.
“However, the ripples affect Nigeria financially as earning from oil export has dropped and weakened the financial ability of the government.
“Many of the ministers have yet to adjust to the economic realities in the country.
“We speak and focus on ministers, but let me use Lagos State as an example. When the commissioner for environment ran foul with the demolition of structures on the flimsy excuse that the owners had no permit, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode swung into action and sacked him from his cabinet.
“Buhari has not been doing this and a cabinet reshuffle is needed.”
Adeolu argued that putting Fashola in charge of power, works, and housing is a bad idea.
“Fashola had no idea of the sector and learnt very slowly and often brought to the table ridiculous ideas and statements that were just untenable. Giving him three ministries was just ridiculous.
“He performed in Lagos because other people brought the ideas. He was only clever to implement them. He was no magician because today all federal roads are in shambles.”
Nwanguma added that “it is difficult to assess these ministers since we don’t have their programme documents; I mean their ministries plan of action, if any. There is also no performance assessment to determine who has delivered or not.
“Viewed generally from the point of view of whether the lives of Nigerians have improved or not; the level of improvement in welfare and well-being of the people; the infrastructure that has been put in place or how many old ones have been maintained or improved upon; what is the state of social amenities, etc.; it will be difficult to say so much has improved.
“The roads remain in bad shape, constituting death traps. In spite of so much noise and fury over the government’s fight against corruption, financial transactions are still marred by irregularities and corrupt practices.
“Procurement laws are still breached, and banks remain major avenues for fraudulent financial transactions and conduits for transfer of looted funds.
“Our government officials, including the president, governors, and ministers and their families continue to go overseas for medical treatment, leaving the rest of the people with poorly equipped and dysfunctional health facilities.
“Our educational institutions continue to deteriorate. There is need for a national and long term development plan with timelines and sanctions for failure to deliver either as a government official or government contractor.”