One Year Later, Let Mr. President Reshuffle His Cabinet | By Abba Dukawa

 

It’s an indisputable fact that Nigeria has long depended on oil and gas to sustain the government. However, the abrupt removal of the oil subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has adversely affected the economy and the standard of living. The levels of anger, uncertainty, and hunger in the country have reached unprecedented levels.

Therefore, the administration’s economic policies since May 29 last year have caused serious setbacks to the citizens’ well-being.

Almost a year after forming the cabinet, the President tasked them to begin work immediately, as Nigerians won’t tolerate any excuses for failure.

Day after day, Nigerians heard excuses and contradictions in administration policies. The citizens’ future seems bleak, with no anticipation of light at the end of the tunnel.

Despite the President urging them to act swiftly, the administration’s ambitious “Renewed Hope,” the cornerstone of Tinubu’s government, has only renewed frustration among citizens.

President Tinubu’s confidence in restoring public faith in government seems far from achievable. The citizens do not perceive the ministers’ positive actions towards transforming the country and improving citizens’ lives.

Contrary to President Tinubu’s call not to disappoint Nigerians and to serve with integrity, dignity, and competence to fulfill the administration’s manifesto, the ministers have failed.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the 47 Ministers to present their performance scorecards ahead of his administration’s one-year anniversary.

If the President genuinely seeks unbiased evaluations of the ministers’ performances, he should ask Nigerians for their opinions. What kind of report does the President expect from the ministers? How can ministers evaluate their own performance? Such self-assessment would compromise the objectivity of the evaluation.

Would any minister evaluate their own performance below expectations? This directive does not conform to best practices globally. How can an accused judge their own case?

The scorecards presented by the ministers are not satisfactory, as a significant percentage have failed to grasp their roles adequately, while a small percentage have performed fairly. Only the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has excelled despite ongoing economic challenges.

For the record, Wike assumed office when Abuja faced numerous challenges from infrastructure decay to security issues, presenting a negative picture.

Over the past eight years, the capital city has suffered from infrastructure decay in roads, water, health, and transport, seemingly deliberately and systematically neglected.

Wike has aggressively embarked on the reworking of infrastructure in the capital city and its environs. In just 12 months, Wike has transformed Abuja into a bustling construction site.

Driving through districts and highways within the city, one cannot miss the ongoing construction works: resurfacing of over 135 inner-city roads, ongoing road construction in area councils, building of bridges, and expansion of facilities in Guzape and other districts.

Upon assuming office, criminals and violent elements had terrorized FCT residents, causing fear and concern. Drawing from his experience tackling security challenges in Rivers State, Wike confronted this head-on.

Through his strategy, Wike broke bureaucratic barriers, fostered effective synergy among security agencies, and improved monitoring and evaluation processes. What has changed in the FCT?

Within a year, Nyesom Wike’s meticulous planning, enhanced facilities provision, and sustained operations have made security agents realize they face a results-driven security apparatus under new leadership in the FCT.

The metropolis, area councils, and suburbs are now better protected, with incidents of crime gradually declining.

Regardless of political differences, Wike has distinguished himself as a significant contributor to realizing Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

His selection and exceptional performance further affirm Tinubu’s ability to identify and nurture talents for excellence in public service. Despite efforts by political opponents and adversaries, the majority of Abuja residents, visitors, and many Nigerians commend Wike’s transformative initiatives for the FCT, the seat of power.

In just a year, Wike and his team have achieved strides that previous ministers could not, deserving commendation rather than criticism, applause rather than jeers, good wishes instead of negativity, and prayers rather than curses.

Without delving into politics, Wike, as the first Southerner in about five decades to hold this office, has proven himself as a proactive public servant striving to leave a lasting legacy.

As the saying goes, “reward for hard work is more work.” One hopes Wike will not relent in his impressive efforts.

Reflecting on the past year, policy targets have not been met. Therefore, a cabinet reshuffle is necessary to strengthen the government’s performance and achieve these targets in the future.

Let Mr. President ensure that over the next three years, the cabinet shapes policies significantly impacting the lives of millions of Nigerians.

Let him appoint individuals committed to working for the country. It seems Mr. President is prepared to save the country, but some of his collaborators have not performed well.

Let him prioritize professionalism, seriousness, transparency, team spirit, and selflessness to fulfill the mandate entrusted to them by the president.

Dukawa writes from Abuja.
He can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com.

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