Intense political influence is constraining President Muhammadu Buhari from firing his ministers as calls to sack most of the underperforming cabinet members heighten, metrobusinessnews.com gathered.
On account of this, the President may not relieve any minister of his appointment but carry out a reshuffle, a process which may not happen until May 29th, the second anniversary of his administration, an Aso Rock source confided.
On account of this, the President may not relieve any minister of his appointment but carry out a reshuffle, a process which may not happen until May 29th, the second anniversary of his administration, an Aso Rock source confided.
An Aso Rock official who pled anonymity told our correspondent that the President would have actually loved to drop some of them and bring in more focused members who would help him turn around recessed economy, but is constrained by some factors.
There have been calls for the sack of some ministers in the Buhari cabinet, especially the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, for his embarrassing outburst and the minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who many say has not been able to have a firm grip on the country’s complex economic situation.
There have been calls for the sack of some ministers in the Buhari cabinet, especially the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, for his embarrassing outburst and the minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who many say has not been able to have a firm grip on the country’s complex economic situation.
There have also been calls for the President to boot out some other members of his cabinet, the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, following allegations of corrupt practices.
“The cabinet reshuffle may be done during the second anniversary and it may be a reshuffle and not outright dropping,” the official said
adding that some would have been dropped but they are particularly close to the President.
While Adeosun has the support of the VP who is head of the economic team, Dalung is said to be friends with the president, a friendship the official said dates back to when he worked in the prison while the president was incarcerated.
President Buhari has also been under intense pressure to drop his Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Chief of Staff was allegedly accused of collecting kickbacks from telecommunication giant MTN to help influence the President for a soft landing. Recall that Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, NCC, had slammed a $5 billion fine on MTN for failing to disconnect subscribers with
unregistered phone lines bought before January 2012.
“The Chief Of Staff may serve to the end of the administration. It is not likely he will be dropped as he has not been found culpable to all the allegations” our source said.
However, it is expected that new appointments will be made to fill in the vacant slots created by the late minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi and that of Amina Mohammed,minister of environment, who is going to take up the position of
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
“The cabinet reshuffle may be done during the second anniversary and it may be a reshuffle and not outright dropping,” the official said
adding that some would have been dropped but they are particularly close to the President.
While Adeosun has the support of the VP who is head of the economic team, Dalung is said to be friends with the president, a friendship the official said dates back to when he worked in the prison while the president was incarcerated.
President Buhari has also been under intense pressure to drop his Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Chief of Staff was allegedly accused of collecting kickbacks from telecommunication giant MTN to help influence the President for a soft landing. Recall that Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, NCC, had slammed a $5 billion fine on MTN for failing to disconnect subscribers with
unregistered phone lines bought before January 2012.
“The Chief Of Staff may serve to the end of the administration. It is not likely he will be dropped as he has not been found culpable to all the allegations” our source said.
However, it is expected that new appointments will be made to fill in the vacant slots created by the late minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi and that of Amina Mohammed,minister of environment, who is going to take up the position of
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
The SGF may be dropped anytime soon because of the overwhelming evidence against him. A report by Shehu Sani-led ad-hoc committee of the Senate on “mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East” linked Lawal to a N2.5 billion fraud at the Presidential
Initiative for the North East, (PINE). The report indicted him for allegedly receiving N223 million contract to clear invasive plant
species (weed) in Yobe State through a company, Rholavision Nigeria Limited which he allegedly owns.
Following these revelations by the senate, the President has been under increased pressure to boot him out of office as a boost for his
anti-corruption war.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is said to have queried Lawal over the matter, while
the President in his New Year message, apparently referring to the case admitted that “government is aware of some mistakes and
wrongdoings in handling the affairs of IDPs. “We are taking measures to correct those mistakes and punish the culprits,”.
The official who spoke to BusinessDay confirmed that the President is considering options for his replacement as his case is one that may
test the President’s integrity.
According to him, “the SGF said he resigned but was still signing and the fact that a company he is affiliated with got the contract is
damning. So these are things the president cannot overlook except he decides to. But I know he will be dropped one of these days, anytime
soon”.
Initiative for the North East, (PINE). The report indicted him for allegedly receiving N223 million contract to clear invasive plant
species (weed) in Yobe State through a company, Rholavision Nigeria Limited which he allegedly owns.
Following these revelations by the senate, the President has been under increased pressure to boot him out of office as a boost for his
anti-corruption war.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is said to have queried Lawal over the matter, while
the President in his New Year message, apparently referring to the case admitted that “government is aware of some mistakes and
wrongdoings in handling the affairs of IDPs. “We are taking measures to correct those mistakes and punish the culprits,”.
The official who spoke to BusinessDay confirmed that the President is considering options for his replacement as his case is one that may
test the President’s integrity.
According to him, “the SGF said he resigned but was still signing and the fact that a company he is affiliated with got the contract is
damning. So these are things the president cannot overlook except he decides to. But I know he will be dropped one of these days, anytime
soon”.
