Okonjo-Iweala: Ministers unhappy with president’s directive
By Olusola Fabiyi
Sunday, 28 Aug 2011
 

There was disquiet in the Federal Executive Council over a directive by President Goodluck Jonathan that ministers should cooperate with the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, or get sacked.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH showed that the ministers were not happy with the President’s threat and the power of Okonjo-Iweala in the cabinet.

Some ministers, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said it was wrong for the president to give the former managing director of the World Bank an impression that she was superior to her colleagues.

They said inasmuch as they recognised her prowess in the area of finance, there was no way she could also claim to be all-in-all in other areas.

One of the ministers said, “Well, it was true that the president called the meeting where he spoke about the need to cooperate with her in the assignment to lead the economic team.

“We all know that the economy is in bad shape and there is need for all members of the Federal Executive Council to work together in order to deliver dividends of democracy to our people.

“Yes, in doing that, we should all be treated with respect. We are all important in this national assignment. It is wrong to say one is more important than the other; after all, where was she when we were campaigning? She should not be made our boss.”

Another minister said most ministers also felt that instead of asking them to cooperate with Okonjo-Iweala or get sacked, the president ought to implore all the ministers to work together.

The minister said that the nation was already polarised and that the president’s comment was capable of dividing the FEC.

The minister said, “We already have a divided nation. We have a divided party in the Peoples Democratic Party, which is the ruling party. Now, I do not think it is in the interest of the nation and the government to also have a divided government.

“Of course, we are bound to cooperate with one another, irrespective of our ministries. But to say one minister is superior to the other is wrong.

“Okay, look at the security challenge facing the country. Will the president also give orders that the ministers in charge of security are second to Okonjo-Iweala? That is our dilemma now.”

It was also gathered that the finance minister might collide with her colleagues, if she unnecessarily pruned their budgets.

Investigations showed that the ministers would resist any reduction in their budgets that would affect the implementation of programmes of their ministries.

One of the ministers, who pleaded anonymity, said, “You know Okonjo-Iweala is the coordinating minister. Her ministry is the clearing house. We do not expect her to interfere in the affairs of our ministries in her mission to cut down government spending.”

The president had met with the ministers behind closed-doors before her inauguration as finance minister and threatened to sanction anyone who refused to cooperate with her.

The meeting was said to have been held to avoid conflicts among the ministers.

According to a presidency source, the president defined the role of Okonjo-Iweala as the coordinating minister at a meeting which had in attendance Mr. Olusegun Aganga (the Minister of Trade and Investment) and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi.

It was learnt that Okonjo-Iweala, as the coordinator of Jonathan’s economic management team, would serve as “de facto prime minister” in the cabinet.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, did not reply to SUNDAY PUNCH’s inquiries on the latest development.

He did not reply to calls or text messages sent to his phone on Friday night.

But the special adviser had earlier explained the functions of Okonjo-Iweala as the coordinating minister in an earlier interview.

He said the former MD of the World Bank was made the coordinating minister to ensure that the various ministries worked together to forge a synergy in government operations.

Abati had told one of our correspondents last week that the president had made the economy the centre-piece of his transformation agenda, saying there must be proper coordination for a strong economy to emerge.

He had said, “The duty of the minister of finance, making her the coordinating minister, is to ensure that the various ministries work together and there is a synergy in government operations.

“If everything ends with finance, it basically means that, every other ministry would have to have a robust relationship with that ministry. The emphasis is really on this synergy.”

hercules07:

The powers given to her are too much but most of the ministers are political jobbers, if they feel they can not work in that environment, let them resign, abi na by force.

hercules07:

The powers given to her are too much but most of the ministers are political jobbers, if they feel they can not work in that environment, let them resign, abi na by force.

EFCC, ICPC not aware of Okonjo-Iweala’s three big corruption cases
By Olamilekan Lartey
Sunday, 28 Aug 2011
 

Anti-corruption agencies in the country have said they are not aware of the three big corruption cases the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala, wanted them to prosecute.

Okonjo-Iweala last Wednesday said there were three big cases of corruption and graft the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission were going to prosecute.

The minister spoke in Abuja while unfolding her economic blueprint for the country.

While talking about strategies for good governance and corruption, Okonjo-Iweala said the EFCC and the ICPC had to recover all stolen assets of the country.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s investigations at the EFCC and the ICPC, however, showed that the anti-graft agencies were not aware of the three big corruption cases the minister was referring to.

EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said he didn’t know the big cases the minister was talking about.

“If she mentions them I will know, but now I have no idea,” he said.

The response was the same from the ICPC.

The commission said since the minister had not identified the specific cases, it could not make a comment.

ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said, “Maybe if they forward the cases to us, but right now I don’t know about them.”

The Human Rights Watch had in a report released last Thursday said the efforts in the war against corruption had fallen short.

hercules07:

The powers given to her are too much but most of the ministers are political jobbers, if they feel they can not work in that environment, let them resign, abi na by force.

mekaboy:

They are all scared of what this might lead to, all these corrupt ministers who are there to loot and spend the nations money on girls, why will they be comfortable, if they have nothing to hide what's the panic? Just looking for excuse, yes jonathan knows the criminals who he had to appoint as ministers because that's a pdp agreement and he had no choice- but on the other hand he wants his government to have a positive impact in the nation and the only way to do it is to subject all the criminals that were apointed ministers under someone who has a clean record and is willing to change this nations economy. Yes her position is of high priority, because all the other ministries depend of finance to function.

bossinie:

The particular Minister who made those comments should be SACKED immediately for questioning the directive of his boss,is it not obvious that Okonjo-Iweala is among the very few Ministers who were chosen on merit and not out of sentiments to satisfy various political interests.How can the President value any of them when they came lobbying at all cost for their various positions as against Okonjo-Iweala whom he had to lobby himself.They had better obey that directive and forget about sentiments about her being a woman and all OR get sacked as there cannot be any progress in our economic policy implementation if there is no one to call the shots as most of these Ministers are no better than our Governor's who plunder the allocations to their Ministries.  

kokoA:

All ministers are equal, but some are 'more equal' than others. The earlier they shut up their mouth and start cooperating with 'madam fix it', the better for them. Abi dem no sabi say even Ebele dey fear dat madam? Kai! to go Havard swweeet oooo  

Beaf:

Brilliant analysis.

bossinie:

The particular Minister who made those comments should be SACKED immediately for questioning the directive of his boss,is it not obvious that Okonjo-Iweala is among the very few Ministers who were chosen on merit and not out of sentiments to satisfy various political interests.How can the President value any of them when they came lobbying at all cost for their various positions as against Okonjo-Iweala whom he had to lobby himself.They had better obey that directive and forget about sentiments about her being a woman and all OR get sacked as there cannot be any progress in our economic policy implementation if there is no one to call the shots as most of these Ministers are no better than our Governor's who plunder the allocations to their Ministries.  

solomon229:

Has anybody noticed some improvements in GEJ PR since the coming of Abati? Unlike Ima Niboro days I have noticed some marginal plus and really wish more of Abati and Okonje hold sway in GEJ decision making process. GEJ taking decisions with those VDV ministers and without Okonjos or Abatis is a dailly wahala, even for those of us that never voted/supported him.

GEJ dropped another bomb-shell yesterday at the UN bomb scene in front of the whole world and I am very sure he has not reharsed answer to that particular question with Abati before coming to the scene. GEJ has no verifiable records of problem solving and really needs Okonjo for the Nation's economic direction now.

What I disagree with is his method of officially declaring Okonjo superior to other Ministers in an FEC meeting. All he needs is just a body language and all the ministers will get the message without much rancour. My fear now is that GEJ as the president with uncoordinated and well-thought-through statements is exposing these Super minister to danger from politicians that are used to killing anything that impede their looting freedom.

Congratulations to all objective NL GEJ critics as some of your efforts are yielding results albeit slowly. GEJ got the Salami message and Katsina-Alu has been eased out, he was forced to come to UN bomb scene in 'Oshiomole' patented outfit just the way NL expect only for the 'bad' journalist to ask a difficult question to spoil the good show. NL critics should please keep up the heat on GEJ because whether we like it or not we are stuck with him till 2015.

lagcity:

a divided FEC, another headache we don't need

hercules07:

GEJ does not know how to inspire, it is a position that he is not qualified for, there is a way you lay down the marker for your guys while still inspiring them, can anybody walk through fire for GEJ?  The ministers are politicians so they do not have any sense of worth, they are just there to chop that is why they cannot resign, Okonjo Iweala needs to relate with them as colleagues, bring them closer to her and treat them as equals (even when she knows they are clearly inferior). The man shirking his responsibilities is the President, I wish Okonjo well but she should not talk about paying any foreign debts now ooooo.

Gbawe:

The big picture is that productivity cannot thrive amidst rancour and discontent.