…Needs to Strengthen Weak Areas, Build Cohesion, Synergy in Governance

In a surprise and deft move that may have caught cynics unawares, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, reshuffled his cabinet formed on August 21, 2019, sacking two Ministers and redeploying others in an attempt to rejig and reinvigorate his executive machine.

This shedding off of the cabinet according to the President, was taken to “strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.”

In a statement to cabinet members during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday 1st September, President Buhari announced that Mr Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Mr Sale Mamman, Minister of Power were leaving the cabinet.

In the same vein, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, was redeployed to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing will now be the Minister of Power.

The President said the changes were sequel to the “tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review” through sector reporting during Cabinet meetings and at retreats.

He added that “these significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.”

The full text of the statement as revealed by Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina read in parts:

“On Wednesday 21st August, 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in Office and to emphasise the 9 priority areas of government for the second term.

“Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.

“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.

“I must commend this cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.

“As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.

“Accordingly, a few cabinet changes, marking the beginning of a continuous process, have been approved. They are as follows:

Ministers Leaving the Cabinet:

I. Mohammed Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and

II. Engr. Sale Mamman, Minister of Power.

Redeployment:

I. Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to assume office as the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development;

II. Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing assume office as the Minister of Power.

“In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.

“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation. Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours.

“Finally, I wish to reiterate once more, that this process shall be continuous.

“I thank you all and May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement concluded

This changes may have come at a time many believed that the President was unmoved by the waning performances of some of his Ministers and was not in the mood to change them. But recently, Buhari said he was not prepared to end his tenure as a failure.

Although it was a charge to his security chiefs to review the country’s security architecture to tackle the country’s growing insecurity, it was a clear message that the President will not brook excuses in any other sector.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno, conveyed the President’s pledge to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with security chiefs which lasted more than five hours.

“The President was briefed, the President is quite happy that there’s been a tremendous success, especially with the advent of the new service chiefs and Inspector-General of Police,” he told reporters.

“And he’s also made it very clear that he’s not ready to exit government as a failure; he is not going to tolerate that.

“He’s made changes and he’s ready to make further changes if he is not satisfied. He is completely determined to ensure that there’s a turnaround in the fortunes in the theatre of operations.”