LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) on Wednesday gave his assessment of the ongoing ministerial screening saying the overall performance of those screened so far has been below average.
Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Agbakoba also expressed disappointments over the delay in the submission of the list by President Muhammadu Buhari and the fact that the 35 percent affirmative action plan for women is not reflected in the list.
He also said that the first list of 21 ministerial nominees sent by the president was peopled by politicians who are being compensated by the president for their role in his emergence as president, while the second list was filled with technocrats.
He however added that what is paramount to Nigerians is the ability of the Ministers to deliver in any role assigned to them by the president.
“Going by the screening, let me say that I was impressed with Fayemi, Kemi Adeosun, Fashola, Ngige, Malami but the overall performance was above average. But that is not the problem. The problem is the work. If they can do what they said during the screening, that will be fine”.
“I was a bit disappointed that the list took a long time and I was also a bit disappointed when the first list came, but with the second list, I can say the second list is made up of instrumental people”.
” The first is made up of political people that he needs to pay off. These are people who helped the president to get to where he is. On the whole, it is a rounded balanced scale even though I feel there are few women given the 35 percent quota that has been reserved for women. So that is a minus but in terms of technical qualifications, that is a major plus”.
“In terms of political experience of people like Audu Ogbeh, it is a major plus. So on the whole, let us see what they can do because at the end of the day, it is not who you appoint or how they talk, let us hope they can walk the talk.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
