This article is in response to a topic created on Saturday, June 27, 2015 titled What Is The Need Of Minister When We Have Permanent Secretaries. The purpose of the thread was to justify the delay of ministerial appointment by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari

On the said Thread many respondents were of the opinion that there is no need for ministers when we have career permanent secretaries manning various ministries. But is this really so?
Let us critically look into the subject.

1. Job Role
The Permanent secretary in a ministry is the Chief Executive of that ministry. He's the Accounting Officer and most senior civil servant within the ministry. He does not formulate strategic policies of the government but he only execute operational plans of the government in power.
The Minister on the other hand is a non career civil servant that is employed by the government in power to formulate strategic policies for a specified sector. In addition to this, he supervises ALL the non-Ministerial Departments that falls within the sector.

2. Scope
The scope of the permanent secretary in a ministry is only restricted within his ministry.
The Minister on the other hand is not only confined to the supervision of his "ministry", he also supervises Department and Agencies that comes with his office as minister on behalf of the President. For instance, the Minister of Transport supervises both the Ministry of Transport, NIMASSA, Nigeria Railway Corporation(NRC), Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Maritime Academy of Nigeria etc. The DGs or CEOs of the non-Ministerial Parastatals formulates and implements operational policies (as approved by the various boards) which must be in line with that of the Minister's strategic policy of the government. The perm-sec has no such power.

3. Representation:
Constitutionally, each state must have a minister who is nominated and appointed by the President subject to the approval of the Senate. Each minister sits on the Federal Executive Council and they represent their respective states in the Council. The President and the Vice represent the entire federation.
The Perm-sec on the other hand do not have such constitutional defined representation.

4. Is The "Minister" Ceremonial?
Absolutely not! The minister is a politician that understands and believes in the overall goal of the President. He is hired by the President to formulate policies (subject to approval of the president and Federal Executive Council), and then he ensures that these policies and programs of the FG/President are implemented by his Permanent Secretary, DGs and MDs of Agencies under his supervision. He also ensures that policies and programs that are executed by these MDAs under his supervision are in tandem. For instance, the Petroleum Minister is to ensure that the contracts approved by the Ministerial Tender board (Headed by the Perm-sec) are in tandem with the government laid down rules. He must counter sign it to show government's approval. Also, the Petroleum Minister by law is to ensure that policies of the Executive Management of NNPC are to be in line with wish of the government in power. In addition to this, he receives petitions against any Executive staff and Board Chairman/Members of non-ministerial agency within his supervision on behalf of the President. He also advises the President on the best way to address such petition.

Can The Permanent Secretary Function As Minister?
Absolutely Negative! The Permanent Secretary within a ministry cannot supervise the CEO/DG that is under the ministry's supervision. He has no business with policy formulation on behalf of the government. He's not aligned to any political party and he's not hired by the President but by the Civil service. The President can fire any erring minister over non performance or based on any slightest issue or non issue, but he can't fire the perm-sec over "poor performance". The worst he can do is to redeploy the perm-sec in line with the civil service rules. The Perm-sec can only leave the civil service on voluntary/mandatory retirement, death or based on any offence that stipulate the wield stick as punishment.

Nigeria Situation Without Ministers
The situation that we are in under Buhari means that there is nobody to formulate policies for and on behalf of the FG in line with the "Change" of the Buhari's administration. It also means that nobody to supervise ministries, agencies and departments which give room for theft and mismanagement of public funds by civil servants. It means that the public won't be able to experience any policy change anytime soon. It means that the President will dish out "orders" as the spirit directs without analysing core factors. It also means that permanent secretaries and DG/CEOs of Agencies will act in accordance with existing rule aka Auto-Pilot.

Finally, Nigeria is not the first and only country to practice political cabinet Minister in addition to perm-secs of ministries. The Nigeria equivalent of career civil servants perm-sec in the UK is Permanent Under Secretary(PUS), Italy call theirs Secretary-General, Canada (Deputy Minister), Australia (Secretary), USA (Deputy Secretary) etc. All these countries still have cabinet ministers that are incharge with policies and supervision.

I hope we all understand that there is NO WAY President Buhari can effectively bring change without ministers.


God Bless Us All

Good research and write up

Thumbs up OP.

As if they do not know all that was said by the op.
They were just looking for a way to justify Buhari's inability to appoint ministers.

kromoto:
Good research and write up

Thumbs up OP.

Thanks my oga.

barcanista is a genius apc hacks will invent a new lie or try to insult u

luvinhubby:
As if they do not know all that was said by the op.
They were just looking for a way to justify Buhari's inability to appoint ministers.

You are right...We also need to educate people so that they won't fall for such excuse.

presher:
barcanista is a genius apc hacks will invent a new lie or try to insult u

Every lie shall be countered with truth. Every insult shall be ignored.


Cc Lalasticlala Ishlove Seun Obinoscopy FP

barcanista:
Every lie shall be countered with truth. Every insult shall be ignored.

na xo

barcanista:
Every lie shall be countered with truth. Every insult shall be ignored.


Cc Lalasticlala Ishlove Seun Obinoscopy FP

I wish the best for this nation. I often wish for the Buhari/Idiagbons regimes tough stance on indiscipline and corruption to be reenacted but this is democracy where my hopes are limited.

kromoto:


I wish the best for this nation. I often wish for the Buhari/Idiagbons regimes tough stance on indiscipline and corruption to be reenacted but this is democracy where my hopes are limited.

The best for the country should be the motivator in politics.

barcanista:
This article is in response to a topic created on Saturday, June 27, 2015 titled What Is The Need Of Minister When We Have Permanent Secretaries. The purpose of the thread was to justify the delay of ministerial appointment by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari

On the said Thread many respondents were of the opinion that there is no need for ministers when we have career permanent secretaries manning various ministries. But is this really so?
Let us critically look into the subject.

1. Job Role
The Permanent secretary in a ministry is the Chief Executive of that ministry. He's the Accounting Officer and most senior civil servant within the ministry. He does not formulate strategic policies of the government but he only execute operational plans of the government in power.
The Minister on the other hand is a non career civil servant that is employed by the government in power to formulate strategic policies for a specified sector. In addition to this, he supervises ALL the non-Ministerial Departments that falls within the sector.

2. Scope
The scope of the permanent secretary in a ministry is only restricted within his ministry.
The Minister on the other hand is not only confined to the supervision of his "ministry", he also supervises Department and Agencies that comes with his office as minister on behalf of the President. For instance, the Minister of Transport supervises both the Ministry of Transport, NIMASSA, Nigeria Railway Corporation(NRC), Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Maritime Academy of Nigeria etc. The DGs or CEOs of the non-Ministerial Parastatals formulates and implements operational policies (as approved by the various boards) which must be in line with that of the Minister's strategic policy of the government. The perm-sec has no such power.

3. Representation:
Constitutionally, each state must have a minister who is nominated and appointed by the President subject to the approval of the Senate. Each minister sits on the Federal Executive Council and they represent their respective states in the Council. The President and the Vice represent the entire federation.
The Perm-sec on the other hand do not have such constitutional defined representation.

4. Is The "Minister" Ceremonial?
Absolutely not! The minister is a politician that understands and believes in the overall goal of the President. He is hired by the President to formulate policies (subject to approval of the president and Federal Executive Council), and then he ensures that these policies and programs of the FG/President are implemented by his Permanent Secretary, DGs and MDs of Agencies under his supervision. He also ensures that policies and programs that are executed by these MDAs under his supervision are in tandem. For instance, the Petroleum Minister is to ensure that the contracts approved by the Ministerial Tender board (Headed by the Perm-sec) are in tandem with the government laid down rules. He must counter sign it to show government's approval. Also, the Petroleum Minister by law is to ensure that policies of the Executive Management of NNPC are to be in line with wish of the government in power. In addition to this, he receives petitions against any Executive staff and Board Chairman/Members of non-ministerial agency within his supervision on behalf of the President. He also advises the President on the best way to address such petition.

Can The Permanent Secretary Function As Minister?
Absolutely Negative! The Permanent Secretary within a ministry cannot supervise the CEO/DG that is under the ministry's supervision. He has no business with policy formulation on behalf of the government. He's not aligned to any political party and he's not hired by the President but by the Civil service. The President can fire any erring minister over non performance or based on any slightest issue or non issue, but he can't fire the perm-sec over "poor performance". The worst he can do is to redeploy the perm-sec in line with the civil service rules. The Perm-sec can only leave the civil service on voluntary/mandatory retirement, death or based on any offence that stipulate the wield stick as punishment.

Nigeria Situation Without Ministers
The situation that we are in under Buhari means that there is nobody to formulate policies for and on behalf of the FG in line with the "Change" of the Buhari's administration. It also means that nobody to supervise ministries, agencies and departments which give room for theft and mismanagement of public funds by civil servants. It means that the public won't be able to experience any policy change anytime soon. It means that the President will dish out "orders" as the spirit directs without analysing core factors. It also means that permanent secretaries and DG/CEOs of Agencies will act in accordance with existing rule aka Auto-Pilot.

Finally, Nigeria is not the first and only country to practice political cabinet Minister in addition to perm-secs of ministries. The Nigeria equivalent of career civil servants perm-sec in the UK is Permanent Under Secretary(PUS), Italy call theirs Secretary-General, Canada (Deputy Minister), Australia (Secretary), USA (Deputy Secretary) etc. All these countries still have cabinet ministers that are incharge with policies and supervision.

I hope we all understand that there is NO WAY President Buhari can effectively bring change without ministers.


God Bless Us All

Keep calm....The ministers will come.

barcanista:
The best for the country should be the motivator in politics.

My brother, this is the only country we have. When I look at my kids, I just wonder with the way this country is going will they have opportunities and privileges to achieve what they hope to be?

It's about our kids and those unborn that this nation must not sink. It doesn't matter which or what party rules? All I want is a future for all kids!

It's scary!

That thread was just meant to ease the pressure/demand for ministers sighting the availability of permanent sect to act in that capacity at least for now...
You have valid points though...

ionsman:

Keep calm....The ministers will come.

Nigeria cannot be on standstill especially now that the President spokesperson is giving the impression that Nigeria may not get ministers anytime soon

Being partisan robs you of good reasoning and judgment, once again, Barcanista laid it bare and faultless. You will always have a fan in me as long as you remain on this course. How well you balance this with your job as a PDP fan remains unknown. Be rest assured that anytime you stray, you won't be pampered .

For now, enjoy the privileges that comes with being objective and sincere which is admiration and accolades

Educate Buhari's supporter. Seriously they are cows.

kromoto:


My brother, this is the only country we have. When I look at my kids, I just wonder with the way this country is going will they have opportunities and and privileged to achieve what they hope to be?

It's about our kids and those unborn that this nation must not sink. It doesn't matter which or what party rules? All I want is a future for all kids!

It's scary!

Correct! We have a duty to hold governt accountable irrespective of the person or party in power. A serious government will not even wait for people to cry and shout before appointing ministers.

patrickmuf:
That thread was just meant to ease the pressure/demand for ministers sighting the availability of permanent sect to act in that capacity at least for now...
You have valid points though...

Thank you sir but Nigeria did not elect APC/Buhari just just to calm nerves but to wrk and do the right thing. In fact,no nerve can be calmed except government do the right thing

Nigeria is better without ministers for 6ms than PDP 16yrs without anything to show.

Empty

barcanista:
Nigeria cannot be on standstill especially now that the President spokesperson is giving the impression that Nigeria may not get ministers anytime soon

I understand your point. I am a little bit disappointed too. But let's watch and see.

@ Op, remember destruction is one touch, while construction takes time. Your explanations are valid, bear it on mind PDP govt has brought this country to kneel. With the financial crisis inherited from Otueke Dullard you don't need to be a professor to know it will take time to fix this country.

Good one Barca., let see how the power play among the power brokers plays out.

A well put together piece Barcanista however I do not think that a few weeks or months of governance without ministers is of grave consequence to the nation. This is not to excuse Buhari's apparently undecided approach to leadership though, he has had enough time to come up with a cabinet he can work with (and the excuses about delayed handover notes from the previous administration is lame)

Let Buhari appoint his cabinet when he wants, what is crucial is that no excuses will be accepted should his team fail to deliver on their promises.

The role of a minister in any given government is to help formulate and direct policies of the government he represents.in other words, a minister is the eye of the government he/she serves in the ministries they represent while the permanent secretary is the eye of the minister in policy implementation of the ministry

AbuMaryam1:
@ Op, remember destruction is one touch, while construction takes time. Your explanations are valid, bear it on mind PDP govt has brought this country to kneel. With the financial crisis inherited from Otueke Dullard you don't need to be a professor to know it will take time to fix this country.

Uncle is that what they told you in APC secretariat? The government still need Ministers to "Reconstruct" the country. Abi na civil servants go do am for Oga @ the top?

Educating and informative

barcanista:
Correct! We have a duty to hold governt accountable irrespective of the person or party in power. A serious government will not even wait for people to cry and shout before appointing ministers.


Thank you sir but Nigeria did not elect APC/Buhari just just to calm nerves but to wrk and do the right thing. In fact,no nerve can be calmed except government do the right thing

I said it before and I will repeat that we need good governance. APC will get enough dose of pressure to cross the red sea ooo. If they knew they were not ready why proclaim CHANGE? Anyway I'm fed up with the stories of once upon a time I had no shoes or cows!

ApexTitan:
A well put together piece Barcanista however I do not think that a few weeks or months of governance without ministers is of grave consequence to the nation. This is not to excuses Buhari's apparently undecided approach to leadership though, he has had enough time to come up with a cabinet he can work with (and the excuses about delayed handover notes from the previous administration is lame)

Let Buhari appoint his cabinet when he wants, what is crucial is that no excuses will be accepted should his team fail to deliver on their promises.

I don't think it is proper to allow the President appoint his cabinet "when he wants". It however should be when it is appropriate- and that technically was from May 30, 2015. Every serious government all over the act almost immediately after coming to power because the business of Governance is so important that vacuum is never encouraged. Meanwhile, how can Buhari properly appreciate the state of every sector without his ministers? The civil servants and non career DGs and MDs will always try to mask their tracks. You need a minister to go there, critically look and evaluate the state of the MDAs under his ministry and advice the President properly. The country without minister is always on standstill and in retrogression.

barcanista:
Uncle is that what they told you in APC secretariat? The government still need Ministers to "Reconstruct" the country. Abi na civil servants go do am for Oga @ the top?

I'm sure if you didn't read it you heard it somewhere the present govt intend to reduce the number of ministries to19. As a literate you knew it better it takes time to do that, putting into consideration a kind of loopholes it may cause, so it's not something to rush. The country is in dare situation we are in a hurry to fix for better tomorrow. We don't want posterity to judge us negetively like the previous administration. Don't get hesitation your monthly five thousand is included.

barcanista:
I don't think it is proper to allow the President appoint his cabinet "when he wants". It however should be when it is appropriate- and that technically was from May 30, 2015. Every serious government all over the act almost immediately after coming to power because the business of Governance is so important that vacuum is never encouraged. Meanwhile, how can Buhari properly appreciate the state of every sector without his ministers? The civil servants and non career DGs and MDs will always try to mask their tracks. You need a minister to go there, critically look and evaluate the state of the MDAs under his ministry and advice the President properly. The country without minister is always on standstill and in retrogression.

"When he wants" should not be taken to mean that the president has the luxury of many months to come to a decision. The window for him to set up his cabinet, even if just for the appearance of direction, is not infinite but he still has it.

If we near the 100 days mark by which many administrations are assessed and the cabinet is still not formed then it can be safely adjudged that the president is truly confused. Let's not raise the alarm yet, let's watch.

AbuMaryam1:


I'm sure if you didn't read it you heard it somewhere the present govt intend to reduce the number of ministries to19. As a literate you knew it better it takes time to do that, putting into consideration a kind of loopholes it may cause, so it's not something to rush. The country is in dare situation we are in a hurry to fix for better tomorrow. We don't want posterity to judge us negetively like the previous administration. Don't get hesitation your monthly five thousand is included.

oga, merging ministries isn't a big deal or new thing. ExPresident Olusegun Obasanjo did it. However, it still won't stop him from appointing 36 Ministers. The difference here is that 17 of the 36 will be Ministers of State. That is just for administrative convenience and doesn't stop him from forming cabinet. Abi you think say na 5years dem de use merge ministries?

ApexTitan:


"When he wants" should not be taken to mean that the president has the luxury of many months to come to a decision. The window for him to set up his cabinet, even if for the appearance of direction, is not infinite but he still has it.

If we near the 100 days mark by which many administrations are assessed and the cabinet is still not formed then it can be safely adjudged that the president is truly confused. Let's not raise the alarm yet, let's watch.

Bros, the so-called "100 days" wait is alien to the law. Serious leaders take less that 3-5days to appoint cabinet members. In fact, I can list more than 10 of such.