No, Mr President. The persons you know will not suffice for the executive offices of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the Federal Executive Council.
Ministers ordinarily serve at the discretion of the President. However, they are not members of his kitchen cabinet. In the best traditions, they represent specific interests of the federating units; in this case, the 36 states and the FCT. Some administrations have extended this to include a representative each of the six geopolitical zones.
Much more than representation matters in ministerial appointments, however. Competence is the primary basis everywhere. It has always been and will always be the basis for such engagements.
Our Constitution stipulates in Chapter 6, Part 1, Section 147 and 148 the appointment of ministers from every state of the federation. The constitution recognises that ministers are critical components of the government. The Federal Executive Council is therefore not a club of friends of the holder of the highest office of the land but a diverse group of capable women and men who assist him in serving the country.
The president does not need to know those who serve with him in the cabinet personally. He should know his domestic staff or kitchen cabinet, but ministers are not personal staff in the strict sense. It is not a requirement for ministerial appointment.
Ministers bring competence, experience, exposure and representation of the disparate interests of the people of the country. They should be persons of utmost integrity and honesty, be committed to the best interest of Nigeria, have the passion and care for Nigeria and be loyal to the country and the president who appoints them. Additionally, ministers should have broad general knowledge and expertise in given areas, be good managers and be creative and innovative.
These are the attributes that would enable them to meet the constitutional charge on them in Section 148 (2) to hold regular meetings with the president and the Vice President and work in:
a) determining the general direction of domestic and foreign policies of the Government of the Federation;
(b) co-ordinating the activities of the President, the Vice-President and the Ministers of the Government of the Federation in the discharge of their executive responsibilities; and
(c) advising the President generally in the discharge of his executive functions other than those functions concerning which he is required by this Constitution to seek the advice or act on the recommendation of any other person or body.
The Federal Executive Council is the first team of the president. It should consist of our first eleven, in football lingo. It should have the best players for each position working under the supervision of and in close collaboration with Mr President.
Many matters require tackling in Nigeria. Mr President should take the lead as he is the one who knows the way, defines new directions and should show his team the way. It is time to unveil and implement the promised Next Level in the conception and implementation of programmes that would solve the challenges of Nigeria.
Membership of the Federal Executive Council is of such overarching importance that Mr President may consider engaging the services of our world-class human resource consulting firms. They would deliver to him a broad canvass from which to choose.
Mr President should search far and wide across Nigeria for our most competent people to serve as ministers. Nigeria, under President Buhari, deserves a stellar cabinet of our best from all over the country. Friends and persons known to him alone would not suffice nor be adequate for the task.
Please get on with the task of naming suitable hands for ministerial portfolios. We are losing so much time. Go for the best, Mr President.
