FOR those that are eager to hear President Muhammadu Buhari name his cabinet members, they will have to tarry awhile because the President’s cabinet members may not be announced untill the end of August or early September.

A source very close to the President confided inThe PUNCHon Sunday that Buhari would not form any cabinet until the “rot left behind by the past administration” is cleared.

“Mr. President is reluctant to build on a rotten foundation he inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party administration. You cannot even begin to imagine the situation we have met on the ground; almost everything is in a state of decay.

“There is absolutely no way the new government can hope to achieve anything long-lasting without first building a new foundation,” the source said.

The source added that clearing the PDP rot was not a month’s job and said those that had been heckling the President over lack of cabinet were politicians looking for jobs.

“They have tried doing it other ways and those haven’t worked. They only want their cronies appointed to ministerial posts anyhow and they are fuelling the agitation,” the source said.

He also said Buhari was taking his time to know the ministries that would survive government’s planned pruning and the desire to cut cost of governance.

The source likened President Buhari’s plan of action to that of a doctor, who first has to break a poorly set bone afresh, before resetting it to allow for smooth and proper growth.

Over the past week, Buhari has come under criticism because he had yet to appoint his cabinet members, despite having more than three months since his election, including a month since his inauguration.

The President was sworn in on May 29, exactly one month ago today.
Responding to the criticism, the source pointed out that it would be impossible to appoint ministers to portfolios without first knowing which portfolios exist and which will be abolished.

He said, “The President plans to cut down the number of ministries and parastatals. He wants to cut down the cost of running government. He wants to make sure that all the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive are blocked. All these are procedures that require time and careful planning. You cannot do it in a rush.

“Remember that he has to make sure that all this is done without any job losses or mass retrenchments. All this is not a day’s or one-month job.”

He added that Buhari could not have realistically commenced the process of forming a cabinet without first receiving the full report of the transition committee and ascertaining exactly the situation his government faced.

The source also denied news reports which stated that President Buhari’s lack of cabinet appointments had grounded the government, insisting that civil servants had been supervising the day-to-day running of ministries and that Permanent Secretaries of the various ministries all have full access to the President.

The source concluded by referring to the current crisis in the National Assembly as one more reason why forming a cabinet would be impossible until further notice.

“Look at how they are fighting among themselves. The Senate has now adjourned till July 21. That means no one to scrutinise or approve any ministerial list until the end of July,” he submitted.

But when reminded that the Senate had agreed to reconvene to consider the President’s ministerial nominees as soon as such list was ready, the source asked our correspondent to await the President’s intervention in the crisis between the party and the National Assembly. “The President wants to walk his talk on stable politics and being a leader for all.

He has a plan for the National Assembly,” he said.
When contacted on Sunday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the information at the disposal of The PUNCH was “not far from the truth.”

“This narrative is the nearest to the truth than all others that are being peddled around. It is not far from the truth,” Shehu said.
Meanwhile, our correspondents learnt in Abuja on Sunday that Buhari would adopt the recommendation of the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee of the All Progressives Congress to prune down the number of ministries to 19.

The PUNCHlearnt that the President would appoint 19 senior ministers and 17 ministers of state as recommended by the Joda committee.
It was also learnt that besides adopting the recommendation, the administration would place emphasis on the appointment of technocrats to man some ministries, including education, finance, works, housing and environment

The 18-man committee inaugurated on April 27, 2015 to prepare the ground for Buhari’s inauguration on May 29, 2015 submitted its report on June 12.
There were 28 ministries and corresponding number of ministers manning them under the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

dustmalik:
Good one, Mr. President. Clean up all the rot in the system and block all the loopholes, so that the remaining saTANoids left in the system can be booted into the ever accommodating lagoon.

handie:
Honestly, I don't see any reason for the agitation in the appointment of Ministers. Just appoint a secretary to the government of the federation, a chief of staff an NSA and other needed special advicers/assistants. What really is the job of a minister if not just to ensure the different ministries work in tandem with the aims of a government in power. If such aims can be met, I see no reason for a rush in ministerial appointments. Right now, those ministries are headed by permanent secretaries who are technocrats grounded in d running of these various ministries and would do much better in d saddle(They've spent most of their career in these ministries). Moreover, no ministers till September will help cut costs in a way(Salaries and other entitlements for these two months can be used for something better). To me, Ministerial appointments are just done to reward loyal party men and give every state a feeling of being involved in the Nation's governance. Baba, as far as those permanent secretaries are doing d job well, abeg wait till December or even next year. NO NEED TO RUSH

ApexTitan:


I share this view point too, government can still function without ministers. Buhari can take all the time he wants.

That statement, however, of waiting till the "rot left by the previous administration is cleared up" could very well end up as a trap for Buhari. It implies that when the ministers are appointed, late August or early September if this report is to be believed, that all would have been set right by Buhari. That means that from that time going forward he and his team will be wholly responsible for any failings or shortcomings Nigeria may experience and that they cannot use GEJ or any other previous administration as an excuse.