President Muhammadu Buhari fired Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Mohammed Sabo Nanono and his power counterpart, Engr. Sale Mamman, on Wednesday.
The president made the announcement at the Presidential Villa Abuja’s weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which he chaired.
He explained that the decision was made to re-energize the cabinet in order to strengthen its ability to build on previous accomplishments.
“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to cabinet discussions and the invaluable services rendered to the nation,” President Buhari said at the FEC meeting, announcing the ministers’ dismissal. Today is effectively their last day in the Federal Executive Council, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
In accordance with the constitution, he said substantive nominations would be made to fill the consequential vacancies in Kano and Taraba states.
As a result, the president announced a minor reshuffle in the cabinet he appointed on August 21, 2019.
Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the Minister of Environment, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, while Abubakar D. Aliyu, the Minister of State for Works and Housing, has been appointed as the Minister of Power.
The changes, according to President Buhari, follow a “tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review” during cabinet meetings and retreats.
“On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, the current Federal Executive Council was sworn in following a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned from my first term in office, as well as to highlight the 9 priority areas of government for the second term.
“Through sector reporting during Cabinet meetings and Retreats, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots two years and some months into the second term.
“These significant review steps have aided in identifying and strengthening weak areas, closing gaps, strengthening governance cohesion and synergy, managing the economy, and improving the delivery of public goods to Nigerians.
“I must commend this cabinet for displaying unrivaled resilience in assisting the government in navigating the disruption to global systems and governance caused by COVID-19’s emergence shortly after inauguration. Because the traditional mode was changed, the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting was not spared.
“As we all know, change is the only constant in any human endeavor, and as this administration enters its critical second term, I believe it is critical to reinvigorate this cabinet in a way that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy accomplishments,” he said.
CNPP retaliates
In a statement released Wednesday in Abuja, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) applauded the ministers’ dismissal and urged Buhari to overhaul his cabinet further.
The CNPP’s Secretary General, Willy Ezugwu, issued a statement urging the president to “hasten action in overhauling his cabinet as there are many underperforming ministers as well as heads of agencies and parastatals still in government.”
“Like we have constantly advised Mr. President to replace some non-performing members of his cabinet, we also urge Mr. President to replace some of his advisers,” the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria added.
“In our opinion, the President’s information managers, including the Minister of Information and Culture, Chief Lai Mohammed, and the presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, who have done their best, should take a bow and return home immediately.
“The CNPP believes that there are still areas in which the President’s administration can improve its performance if his cabinet is urgently rejigged to put square poles in square holes.”
“And, beyond redeployment of some already-exhausted ministers, the CNPP advises President Buhari to look for young technocrats and more innovative citizens, even outside his party, for appointment to ensure that he succeeds in the remaining two years of his presidency,” the CNPP advised.
PDP is on the move.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has characterized the president’s dismissal of the ministers as a ruse to hide his failures in office.
“Our party is also investigating the true reason for their sacking given Mr. President’s public approach to fighting corruption by “easing out” the culprits,” the party said in a statement released Wednesday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan.
“The Buhari administration’s manifest inefficiency is a product of President Buhari’s myopic and divisive approach to governance, as well as the impunity and corruption deeply embedded in his administration and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the report said.
“The PDP believes that even if the best people are hired, they will be tainted by the APC’s and its administration’s incompetence, impunity, disregard for rules, divisiveness, and corruption.
“The party urges President Buhari and the APC to remember that Nigerians are not swayed by the sacking of ministers, and that they are eagerly awaiting the exit of the Buhari Presidency and the APC on May 29, 2023, as there is no hope in sight under their watch,” Ologbondiyan said.
A gang of rampaging gunmen is believed to have killed at least eight people in Bagana district of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State from Tuesday night to early Wednesday morning.