Sunday, May 29, 2016 marked one year of President Muhammadu Buhari's Administration. Prior to the 2015 General Elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) introduced the "Change" mantra along with its long list of campaign promises all aimed at transforming the country within the shortest possible time.
10 Ministers who have not performed fantastically well
President Muhammadu Buhari appointed thirty-six ministers on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Over six months later, some ministries have remained inactive.
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However, the government came under serious criticisms following the slow pace of decision making on critical sectors of the economy and the appointment of ministers.
On Wednesday, November 11, 2015, President Buhari assigned portfolios to 36 ministers excluding the Minister of Petroleum, a position he occupies.
Over six months after inauguration of ministers, Nigerians are yet to feel the effect of their appointments. Some of these ministers are;
Geoffrey Onyema (Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Minister of State, Foreign Affairs): Since their appointment, both have been away from the news. The reason for this is not far from the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on all major trips to foreign countries.
Abdulrahman Dambazau (Minister of Interior): Popular for having his shoes cleaned by security aide, Dambazau's ministry has remained inactive since his appointment. The porous nature of country's borders is a source of concern to all Nigerians. A situation which has led to the constant influx of terrorists, arms and most recently, the Fulani herdsmen who have continued to wreck havoc in most communities.
Babatunde Fashola (Minister of Power, Works and Housing) and Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Minister of State, Power): During the campaign period, Fashola stated that the APC would provide uninterrupted power supply with the first six months, a statement he has denied.
One year later, the country is currently battling to provide 1,500 megawatts, a situation which has thrown the entire country into darkness affecting the cost of running businesses.
Worthy of note if the fact that there is no house without a power generating set. In addition, most Nigerians still have to contend with huge electricity bills every month.
One month after the passage of the controversial 2016 budget, no road or housing project has been commissioned by the federal government. Those commissioned started by the Goodluck Jonathan administration are yet to be completed by this government.
Abubakar Bawa Bwari (Minister of State, Solid Minerals): Little is been heard of Mr Bwari, with most Nigerians questioning his appointment.
Rotimi Amaechi (Minister of Transportation): His ministerial screening at the Senate was the most interesting. Most Nigerians had expected an active minister but this has not been the case. Amaechi commissioned the test trials for the rail project which the previous administration had constructed. Six months down, there is no project from the transport ministry yet.
Okechukwu Enelamah (Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry) and Aisha Abubakar (Minister of State, Trade & Investment): The volume of trade between Nigeria and other countries have not appreciated since their appointment. This ministry occupies a strategic position as it helps to attract foreign investments into Nigeria through signing of trade agreements with other countries.
Audu Ogbe (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development): The attacks on communities by Fulani herdsmen took the minister months to address. The move to establish ranches in some states of the federation and plan to import a "special breed of grass from Brazil" despite Nigeria's economic situation have formed major topics of discussion.
The outbreak of Tuta Absoluta, a pest which caused devastating effect on the yield tomato leading to over 105 per cent increase in the price of the product was another test for the minister.
Again, the minister said the federal government had made plans to import the vaccine. However, Ogbonaya Onu, the minister of Science and Technology disclosed that the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, was already developing a vaccine for the disease popularly called
It is important to note that the success or failure of this administration would determine the performance of the APC in subsequent elections.
With the passage the 2016 budget, Nigerians expect to see the desired change in the various sectors of the economy that would lead to improved standard of living as promised by the party.
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