Buhari's Ministers Acting Like They Own Ministries - APC Group

A pro-All Progressives Congress body, APC Mandate Defenders, has accused some ministers of the Buhari administration of carrying themselves like they own the federal ministries, Daily Post has reported.

The group expressed dismay on Sunday in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Ifeanyi Emeka.

Recall that in December 2019 the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, sacked two senior officials within 24 hours.

They are Marilyn Amobi, Managing Director of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and Damilola Ogunbiyi, former Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency.

Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari overruled Mamman in both cases.

In canceling Ogunbiyi’s suspension, the presidency tweeted: “Her resignation effective 31 December 2019 has been accepted to enable her to take up her new UN appointment.”

Just recently, Communication Minister, Isa Pantami allegedly chased staff of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission – NIDCOM headed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa out of the Nigerian Communications Commission building.

In a strongly-worded complaint, the APC group recalled that Buhari himself directed that all executive matters be forwarded to him through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

They noted that collaboration will enable the government achieve quicker results, but lamented that certain ministers and heads of agencies were working in contrast at the expense of efficient service delivery.

The group restated that the main duty of a minister is to articulate and guide the implementation of government policies as well as represent his/her ministry at the Federal Executive Council (EFCC) meeting.

“Some ministers now see themselves as lords over their subordinates instead of working together to achieve Mr. President’s vision and plans for the country.

“Just recently, the immediate past female managing director of an intervention agency of the Federal Government said she was removed by the minister in charge of her ministry simply because she refused to yield to the minister’s unpatriotic and irrational demands from her.

“We have seen several instances where unnecessary bickering and personal differences between a minister and a chief executive have brought embarrassments to the government, despite an existing public service rule which had already addressed the issue.”

The group condemned how Mustapha, who supervises and coordinates government programmes and policies, has been under attack for reminding ministers of an existing process to be followed before any chief executive is removed.

“Contents of the Public Service Rules were not written by Boss Mustapha but were formulated by the Government of Nigeria to ensure effective service delivery and prevent arbitrary removal of any chief executive who a minister does not like his or her face as well as to promote national interest over personal interest.

“Is it something that should warrant the barrage of attacks and campaigns of calumny against the SGF by some vested interests and influence peddlers in the power sector”, the statement asked.