Ministerial appointment: Buhari may confront Character Commission

ITRealms:

Following the reports making rounds that Alhaji Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to cut the size of Ministries to 19 from 28, may led to confrontation with the Federal Character Commission (FCC), reports ITRealms.

Hitherto, ITRealms recalls that with the current 28 federal ministries, every state is represented thereby paving the way for the creation of Ministers and Ministers of State across all the Ministries.

A former chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and reputed as super-permanent secretary, Alhaji Joda currently serve as the chairman of the Buhari Transition Committee, had proposed to Mr. President for a cut in Ministries which is likely to translate to reduction in the Ministerial appointment and portfolio to be created.

Meanwhile the Federal Character Commission (FCC) was established in 1996, to “enforce the Federal character principles which aimed at ensuring fair and equitable distribution of posts; social-economic amenities; and infrastructural facilities among the federating units of the nation.”

In other words, FCC serves as watchdog for federal government institutions, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), at least in ensuring an evenly distributed workforce that reflects ethnic diversity and the geopolitical divides of the country among others.

ITRealms recollects that the Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee of APC, has asked Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, probably to keep the number of federal ministries at manageable seize of19 so as to have 19 senior ministers and 17 junior or Ministers of State which is expected to bring the total of Ministers to 36.

But some political analysts who commented on this on anonymity wondered which of the states that will allow their federal representation to serve as junior minister, since the key role resides with the senior ministers.

Hence, analysts were also alarmed that Joda’s committee in its report submitted on June 11, especially advice on Ministries may boomerang for President Buhari, which may create instability among the ruling APC party stalwarts. 

Stressing that President Buhari had been expected to hit the ground running since May 29, 2015, but uptil the time of filing this report could not submit Ministerial nominees to the National Assembly, who equally is trying to find its feet by reconciling with the ruling party on the kind of leadership structure to enthrone, even after the Senators and Federal Legislators had shunned party interference.

ITRealms gathered that in the former governments since 1999, appointed of 42 ministers were based on each of the six geo-political zones, in addition to one from each of the 36 states of the federation.

Joda-led Presidential Transition Committee

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!