Ministers must hit the ground running – Blueprint Newspapers Limited

Yesterday’s swearing in of 45 ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signaled the composition of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and the full commencement of the Tinubu government of Renewed Hope, which is expected to revamp the economy, tackle insecurity and eliminate poverty, among other indices of good governance.

Although, President Tinubu has rolled out critical and fundamental policies aimed at restructuring the economy towards accelerated national development, the coming on board of the ministers will, no doubt, invigorate and give impetus to the smooth running of government and the effective and pragmatic implementation of its policies and programmes.

It is, therefore, incumbent on the ministers to appreciate the enormity of their tasks vis-a-vis the expectations of Nigerians, namely, prioritise service to the people and deliver on the mandates of their various ministries.

A cross section of Nigerians who spoke to this newspaper on Sunday night advised President Tinubu not to pamper the new cabinet members as “obtained” under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Dcn. Oluwaseun Thomas, urged the president to accompany the portfolios given to the ministers with specific mandate and tasks to ensure they are achieved within a specific timeframe.

Romanus Okwudili said: “We expect Tinubu’s administration to adopt annual review of the performances of the ministers and other appointees, to know who is doing well and those that need improvement. “Nigerians are waiting, and we also expect these ministers to also prove some of us wrong that they can deliver on their mandate. For me, I will wait for one year to judge them.”

An Abuja resident, Ismaeel Abdulazeez, demanded that the “the National Orientation Agency must be put to the right use. The agency should be made to effectively play its role in sensitising the people on government’s policy.”

National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Alhaji Magaji Olaniyan Ibrahim, said the people’s expectations of the new ministers were high because some of them are past governors who performed creditably in their states.

He lauded Tinubu for giving the Ministry of Police Affairs to two ministers because “their policies will favour policing and the welfare of police officers which will be more improved and encouraged in Nigeria generally. Also, the new minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, will make Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nigerians can be proud of.”

In his submission, a public affairs analyst, Mr Jide Ojo, said, “Nigerians are hoping that whatever limited period left could be used to implement the key highlights from the commitment of the Tinubu administration. “I also expect that the ministers should get their Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that will streamline what is expected of them.

“The major challenge is the issue of budget backing and we are already getting to the third quarter of the year. We might be looking at 2024 before these new ministries will be able to take off effectively. The head of service will be mandated to look for office space for the new ministries and they will also be thinking of where to get money to run new ministries, among others.” 

A resident of Jikwoyi, a suburb of the FCT, who simply identified himself as Michael, said he is confident Wike will replicate his feat as governor of Rivers state in the FCT. He noted that it will be a thing of joy for residents of Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Orozo, and Karshi if the former governor can complete the Apo-Karshi road. 

Also speaking on his expectations, a Kaduna resident, Alhaji Abubakar Bolakale, said the ministers should spring into action in implementing the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu, especially in the face of the economic hardship and high cost of living facing Nigerians. They have to hit the ground running in the various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

And from Minna, Niger state, a driver, Sulaiman, said: “We want the new ministers to help us in solving the problem of banditry in Niger state. Our people cannot go to farm in our communities in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas. We are living in hunger because our farmers cannot harvest their produce because of threat by bandits. Please, we beg President Bola Tinubu to give priority to the safety of lives and property of citizens”.

Similarly, Ishiyaku Rabiu, a roadside fish seller, said there is hunger in the country and urged the new ministers to give priority to solving the problems of banditry and hunger. He further begged that fuel price should be lowered instead of the palliatives being planned by the government.

From Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, Mrs. Nneka Peter, a street trader said, “The minister of works, for instance, should construct roads for people. Now that an Ebonyi man is in that position, he should take over the construction of the railways, and open the railway for easy transportation.

Blueprint congratulates the new ministers, particularly, our publisher, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, who holds the Information and National Orientation portfolio, on their inauguration. We urge members of the Renewed Hope cabinet not to rest on their oars in delivering good governance and its attendant dividends of democracy to Nigerians.