- Tinubu Pins Renewed Hope Agenda on Cabinet
- Top Likely Performers – Pate, Alausa, Keyamo, Fagbemi, Wike, Edun, Umahi, Anite, Musawa, Mamman, Tijani, Tuggar
- Ministers to Watch – Idris, Utsev, Tunji-Ojo, Alake, Edu, Adelabu
- Gbajabiamila, Ribadu Emerge President’s Most Influential Political Appointees
As is common with swearing-in ceremonies of public officials in Nigeria, the spacious State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa venue for the oath taking of the 45 ministers-designate newly appointed by President Bola Tinubu will come alive in carnival fashion from 10:am Monday.
After the colourful ceremony, the ministers will begin to face reality and the demands of their offices in fulfilment of the renewed hope agenda of the President and what Nigerians think and expect of them, considering the terrible state of the nation’s economy as passed on by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
A former National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, recently described the economy as being in a terrible shape. This verdict on the past eight-year rule by the party has left discerning Nigerians wondering whether a cabinet composed of active players in that past administration and period can make any difference in the next four years.
“I doubt if this cabinet can make the desired impact,” said Dr Ike Okonta, Executive Director of Abuja based New Centre for Social Research in an interview with THEWILL on Friday. “Their appointment is not dictated by the development needs of Nigeria, but by political calculations. The President is already looking towards 2027. What he did was to appoint people who will deliver for him. This is what in political science is called machine politics; you identify godfathers who are likely to convince their people to vote for you and empower them.”
Indeed, eight of the ministers-designate are former state governors, namely, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe, Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun.
Many others are past and serving senators and House of Representatives members like Senator Heineken Lopkobiri, Senator John Onah, Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi, Senator Abubakar Kyari, former House Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiru Onyejiocha, two-time House of Reps member, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo and Abubakar Momoh.
Others are politicians who worked for Tinubu’s victory like Betta Edu, APC Women Leader; APC presidential aspirant, Barrister Uju Kennedy; governorship candidate of Accord Party in Oyo State, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; Election Petition Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Counsel, Lateef Fagbemi and Dele Alake, the Presidential Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy.
GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE
Given the parlous state of the economy at the departure of President Buhari, this government would require competence and capacity to turn things around.
Senator Yinus Akintunde, APC Oyo Central, at the weekend said it was premature to assess the cabinet members until after they had performed in their respective offices, adding that the President took time to compile the names.
He said, “I think we are in too much of a hurry. Those who have been appointed are political heads of their ministries, they are not even the accounting officers of their ministries. The argument that you must have experience in your ministry to be effective is not correct. Those complaining that ministers of areas dealing with defence need military background forget that there are service chiefs who oversee security. Former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was once a minister of defence, yet he had no military background.”
Mr Daniel Bwala disagrees with Senator Akintunde. Bwala, one of the chief spokespersons of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign team in the 2023 general election, told THEWILL on Friday that there are certain critical ministries that should have adequately informed and prepared ministers.
By what he called the “fallacy of generalisation,” he said that Senator Akintunde could not be right. Section 5 of the Constitution says that executive power like that of the President must be exercised through the ministers. So, ministers are like Tinubu in their ministries. That is why we have ministers. They give direction and make concerted efforts to push efficiency in the ministries. Look at what happened to FCT, Abuja before Nasir el-Rufai was made its minister. The place was like a market before he came and turned it around,” Bwala said.
For him, the cabinet is a mismatch with a few competent hands and it cannot take the country far in terms of delivery of the President’s agenda on renewed hope.
“The President may be a good man with a plan, but if he does not have the people to push the plan, it means nothing.”
According to Bwala, there are those with capacity and others that are a mismatch. “The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Wale Edun and Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, for example, are square pegs in square holes.
Those that represent the mismatch, for example, are Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Hannatu Musawa, Minster of Art, Culture and Creative economy.”
Bwala says both ministers should swap positions because with the approach of a looming disaster posed by refugees that may likely stream into Nigeria, following the possible invasion of neighbouring Niger by the ECOWAS military force, Musawa, who hails from the North, would feel very much comfortable. Edu, on the other hand, would be at home with the Culture and Creative ministry because Cross River State, where she comes from, is noted for her rich culture and festivals.
Bwala is also critical of the Minister of Defence portfolio assigned to a former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle and Budget and Economic Planning to ex-Governor Atiku Bagudu, for reasons that the Matawalle was, “worse in dealing with insecurity in his state as a governor and was even wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sometime in April, 2023.”
He asked rhetorically, “Does the President have something against retired military generals? The problem of insecurity is hydra-headed. It revolves around local banditry, criminality and terrorism, which requires somebody with military experience to handle.
“Bagudu has no degree, no knowledge nor experience in budgeting and economy. So why put him there? Then why make Wike FCT Minister, a natural troublemaker who likes to intimidate people?”
Dr Abiola Akiode, Executive Director of Director, Women Advocate Research and Development Centre, WARDC, agrees with Bwala on the question of appointing competent hands to lead the ministries, saying that expertise is important.
“Why, for instance, did the President appoint Lateef Fagbemi as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, if competence does not matter?” She said in an interview with THEWILL, “The country does not have time for testing ground, there is a huge problem with that kind of argument because we are at a critical juncture of the country’s growth and development.”
Akiode is however riled by what she described as “disregard for gender inclusion policy according to the National Gender Policy that the government enacted into law in 2020, making it mandatory for 35 per cent representation of women in elective and appointive positions.”
She said she was disappointed at the way the portfolios were assigned and allocated, particularly to women, many of whom she said were those who actually helped the President to win election and not necessarily for women per say “because there are many qualified women in Nigeria.” Even so, she thinks the women should have been properly assigned according to their competence and capacity.
“Nkiruka Onyejiocha participated in oversight functions on aviation during her membership of the House of Reps. She would have been a perfect one for the Aviation and Aerospace Ministry just as Festus Keyamo, SAN, who had manned the Ministry of Labour and Employment as Minister of State should be effective here. Lola Ade-John’s background in technology would have landed her in Innovation Science and Technology and not the Tourism Ministry she was assigned.”
LIKELY TOP PERFORMERS
They are round pegs and round roles, square pegs in square holes as well as ministers-designate with versatile skills. Some already have their jobs cut out for them by their expertise. They are Tahir Mamman (Education), a former Vice-Chancellor of Base University, Abuja; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, an economist and investment banker and was one-time Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, 1999- 2007; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, a former Ambassador to Germany; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; a physician and globally respected public health expert; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, an entrepreneur and co-founder of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), the leading Pan-African innovation and technology centre; Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
OTHER LIKELY TOP PERFORMERS
Hannatu Musawa: Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy
She was until her appointment the Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment to President Bola Tinubu. Mrs Musawa is a lawyer, who served as the deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). She holds a degree in law from the University of Buckingham, UK and took a postgraduate Masters degree in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff, Wales.
Doris Uzoka-Anite: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
She is a medical doctor turned banker. A former Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy in Imo State, Ms Uzoka-Anite was also a former General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc.
Festus Keyamo: Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
Keyamo, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. He served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment after being redeployed from Minister of Niger Delta Affairs under the President Muhammadu Buhari. During the 2023 general elections, he served a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Nyesom Wike: Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT
Wike is the immediate past governor of Rivers State of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. A lawyer by training, Wike also served two terms as Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007. He obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology before proceeding to the Law School in 1997.
Dave Umahi: Minister of Work
Until his appointment as Minister, Umahi was a Senator representing Ebonyi South at the National. He served as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, and as deputy governor from 2011 to 2015.
MINISTERS TO WATCH
Olubunmi Tunji Ojo Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
Ojo was until his appointment a lawmaker from the Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State. He took a Master’s degree in Digital Communication and Networking in 2006 and holds certifications in 18 professional qualifications in ICT. Ojo was one of the first set of certified ethical hackers from Royal Britannia IT Training Academy in the United Kingdom before he turned 24 years.
Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Edu was until her appointment the National Women Leader of the APC.
She was Cross River State Commissioner for Health until her resignation in 2022. She was also the National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.
Prof Joseph Utsev: Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
Professor Utsev is a qualified civil engineer and was a former commissioner in Governor Samuel Ortom administration, associate professor and a former rector at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State and former Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Wanune in Tarka LGA of Benue State.
Dele Alake: Minister of Solid Minerals Development
He was until his ministerial appointment the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy. He also served Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 when Tinubu was governor. He is a former Editor of National Concord from 1995 to June 1999 and a former vice president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
Mohammed Idris: Minister of Information and National Orientation
Idris was until his appointment the Publisher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja-based Blueprint newspaper. He is public relations professional, a politician and was the director of strategic communications for the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.
Adebayo Adelabu: Minister of Power
Adelabu is a former Deputy Governor, Operations, of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He retired from the position in 2019 and ran unsuccessfully for governor in Oyo State as candidate for the APC and again in 2023 on the platform of Accord Party.
GBAJABIAMILA, RIBADU – TINUBU’S MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL APPOINTEES
The President’s Chief of Staff and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu RIbadu, have emerged the most powerful and influential duo in Tinubu’s administration. Both men have the president’s confidence and ears as well as have their imprints and inputs in key decisions taken by the President. While Ribadu has effectively taken charge of state related security issues and policy, Gbajabiamila has also entrenched himself in coordinating political affairs and policy implementation on behalf of the president.
WAY FORWARD
Given the four-year tenure of the administration, many like Dr Akiode, who think the President “allowed other considerations to cloud his judgement in making his choices of ministers,” say that since government is a continuum, there will be room for improvement.
“Ministers are managers and President Tinubu will have to rejig his cabinet sometime in the future to make it more efficient and capable of making the desired impact,” said Bwala.
Senator Akintunde is emphatic: “I insist that we allow the ministers to do their job before we assess their performance. Then, adjustments can be made, if need be.”
THE MINISTERS-DESIGNATE AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS
1. Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security
A. Sabi Abdullahi
2. Minister of State, Housing And Urban Development
Abdullahi T. Gwarzo
3. Minster of Agriculture And Food Security
Abubakar Kyari
4. Minister of Youth
Abubakar Momoh
5. Minister of Power
Adebayo Adelabu
6. Minister of Transportation
Adegboyega Oyetola
7. Minister of Housing and Urban Development
Ahmed M. Dangiwa
8. Coordinating Minister of Health And Social Welfare
Ali Pate
9. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
Atiku Bagudu
10. Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation
Bello M. Goronyo
11. Minister of State, Defence
Bello Matawalle
12. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Betta Edu
13. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
Bosun Tijani
14. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
Bunmi Tunji-Ojo
15. Minister of Works
David Umahi
16. Minister of Solid Minerals Development
Dele Alake
17. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
Doris Anite
18. Minister of State, Gas Resources
Ekperipe Ekpo
19. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
Festus Keyamo
20. Minister of Art, Culture and The Creative Economy
Hannatu Musawa
21. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources
Heineken Lokpobiri
22. Minister of Police Affairs
Ibrahim Geidam
23. Minister of State, Police Affairs
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
24. Minister of State, Environment and Ecology
Ishak Salako
25. Minister of Sports Development
John Enoh
26. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
Joseph Utsev
27. Attorney General of The Federation and Minister of Justice
Lateef Fagbemi
28. Minister of Tourism
Lola Ade-John
29. Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory
Mairiga Mahmud
30. Minister of Defence
Mohammed Badaru
31. Minister of Information and National Orientation
Muhammed Idris
32. Minister of State, Labour and Employment
Nkiruka Onyejeocha
33. Minister of The Federal Capital Territory
Nyesom Wike
34. Minister of Interior
Sa’idu A. Alkali
35. Minister of Steel Development
Shuaibu A. Audu
36. Minister of Labour and Employment
Simon B. Lalong
37. Minister of Education
Tahir Maman
38. Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare
Tunji Alausa
39. Minister of State, Steel Development
U. Maigari Ahmadu
40. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology
Uche Nnaji
41. Minister of Women Affairs
Uju Kennedy
42. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of The Economy
Wale Edun
43. Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yusuf M. Tuggar
44. Minister of State, Education
Yusuf T. Sununu
45. Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs
Zephaniah Jisalo
46. Minister of Environment and Ecological Management
(Kaduna)
About the Author
Amos Esele is the Deputy Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
