jaymichael:
I base my authority on the knowledge acquired and books read on the subject matter not on some reporter who probably read mass communication. The 99 constitution still affirms the Presidential system of Government for Nigeria, that hasn't changed. the 99 constitution doesn't "confer" political powers on the ministers they are still loyal to and answerable to the President and still exercise their powers through DELEGATED LEGISLATION.

AprokoMan:

hinwazaka:

Go and ask the TV presenter, who seriously schooled Madam due process when she stupidly claimed she is not a politician. The level of illiteracy and ignorance in our country is appalling, and you have just shown your own stake in it.

AprokoMan:

BraniacX:


There are no surprises from you inasmuch as stupidity won't be a surprise coming from someone stup1d

ribbit:
lmao.. And who appoints you the judge of people's intelligence.. The fact that you think the OP is intelligent shows you don't deserve to judge even the intelligence of a bug let alone human .. You are probably as intelligent as ant...

Rawani:
It is instructive that all the Presidents policies can be transmitted to MDA's for implementation without the minister's involvement.

TonyeBarcanista:
Cc: Truckpusher Rozayx5 bomsilaga exxel erunz dunsman Nigerianvenom Phockphockman, nwadiuko1, ibokUtoroh, Koded, Ecoterrors, iPrinz20 Aprokoman, OcheJoseph, Dearpreye, Firefire, Francizy, Temitemi1, Hinwazaka Ecoterrors, Dumkem21 Biafranqueen, Mogidi, Mizmycoli, IsraeliAirforce, Candyrain, Ambivert, Rose2014, Provacateur, Opiaoku, NDPVF, Anonimi, Engineerboat, Talktimi, ahaika23, coolestrogue APCSucks Emperortj93 DebateNigeria and all patriots

naijadeyhia:



Stole from the Internet? Lol very funny. You see lies and thievery go hand in hand and since lying is your bane then you know d rest.

If I drink milk from Buharis farm thats because his milk is highly sensitizing and nourishing unlike yours who only had ogogoro to offer which you received dregs of them daily. Internet voltron clan

ribbit:
lmao.. And who appoints you the judge of people's intelligence.. The fact that you think the OP is intelligent shows you don't deserve to judge even the intelligence of a bug let alone human .. You are probably as intelligent as ant...

salissmg:
What is the level of ur educational background and the size of kwoledge and can you please give details about one been an illiterate. This your statement is a disgrace to the public community of your state. Pls go back to school.

TonyeBarcanista:
I'm compelled to write this piece not to spite President Muhammadu Buhari but to cure his misconception of ministers. Earlier today, Mr President was quoted to have made a statement that suggest that ministers are not to relevant in the running of government. According to President Buhari


UNDERSTANDING Ministers and Civil Servants Roles:
Ministers:
Firstly, we have to appreciate the purpose of ministers of the federation. We all we agree that all political parties and candidates standing for elections come with their own program and agenda. These programs are highlighted in their respective document called their Manifesto. The Manifesto is usually in concordance with the overall ideology of the respective parties. When a party's Presidential candidate get elected, he assemble a team of men and women of intellectual standing and believers of his vision to help formulate policies, supervise implementations and defend these policies before the public to actualise the vision and fulfil the President's electoral programs. These group of people are called Ministers. The loyalty of the ministers are to the occupant of the President's office, the country and in most cases the ruling party. Ministers sit and deliberate on policy issues and strategy with the president

Civil Servants:
Every country have a workforce that carry out day-2-day activities of the government in power. We all agree that it is impossible for every government to come on board with their own workforce every 4-8years, hence the country provide for a 'permanent' workforce that will work with every administration. This workforce is called the Civil Service. They are non-partisan career people. They are not to help any political party or candidate formulate policies but are to work with every ruling party and administration to IMPLEMENT policies. They are technocrats and bureaucrats. Their loyalty is not to the ruling party or individual in power but to the "Office of the President" and the Country. They have NO business deliberating on policy issues and strategy with the president or his party. They only take instruction. Let's see a case study...

Case Study: Petroleum Ministry
In the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, there is the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and career Civil Servants, and other agencies and department (eg NNPC, PPPRA etc) under the ministry.

The Minister sit with the President to formulate policies and programs for the sector in line with the President's agenda. S/he prepares budget for the ministry, see to the implementation of this program/policies (supervision) and is answerable to the President, the party and the public. Statutorily, S/he is the Chairperson of the NNPC. She also supervises other department and agencies under her ministry on behalf of the President.


The Permanent Secretary is the Account officer of the ministry and most senior civil servant(rank) in the ministry. S/he is responsible for the implementation of the Minister's policies/program. S/he is the head of the ministerial tender board BUT any contract approved by the board has to be countersigned by the minister (to ensure that they are in tune with the Minister's/President's agenda). He/she is not a member of the Cabinet, neither can S/he replace the minister as the Chairperson of NNPC except S/he resigns and is appointed minister thereafter.


The roles of the minister and permanent secretary are distinct and straight forward. The importance of ministers cannot be over-emphasised. It is instructive to note that Nigeria is not an isolated case when it comes to ministers/permanent secretaries. The United States for instance have Under-Secretaries, which is Nigeria equivalent of Permanent Secretaries, and Secretaries which is ministers equivalent.

Contraty to Buhari's perception, ministers are not for 'noisemaking', neither are they meant to 'fill space' except the incompetent and clueless ones. Without cabinet ministers, a country will be likened to one on 'Auto-piloting'. More importantly, our constitution provide for offices of Ministers just as it provide for the offices of the President and Vice President.

To be fair with the President, his perception of Ministers is inappropriate. I wonder what prompted him to utter such statement when he was a former minister under the General Olusegun Obasanjo military regime between 1977-79. Is he trying to say that he was a 'noisemaking' minister in General Obasanjo cabinet?


May God Bless Us All

bashydemy:
God bless you my brother, I wonder why some people are crying over this ministers of a thing, They are just a representative of the President to oversee the ministry and feed the president back on how things is going on there and what needed to be done.... Permanent secretary is the mean head of each Ministry, Some minister don't even know where they have offices but Permanent secretary do.

wristbangle:



Lol dey mind the fool. The guy na total slowpoke.

MosquitoREBIRTH:
Yes, and that's why I think he is in a better position to tell you what ministers actually are... or don't u tink so?

naijadeyhia:



Giving the wailing voltron clan attention is their aphrodisiac. They need a daily dose of it otherwise they will become obsolete. I am just helping them with their daily dose.

TonyeBarcanista:

1. Ministers are not 'mere' representatives. You gotta read
2. The constitution and relevant laws still specified some duties of the minister. For instance, the Attoney-General must give a go-ahead before any Security Agency can prosecute any case. The Petroleum minister is the statutory chairperson of NNPC. The aforementioned roles cannot be performed by the President except he takes charge of the ministries like Obj did.
3. No sane government function without cabinet. Go figure!

Finally, I won't hesitate to ignore you indefinitely should you reply will abusive word(s).

Pius33:


Thanks for this write up.
Lets learn to respect the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with time shame go catch all these enemies of Nigeria.

hinwazaka:

Even your daft party knows of this. Many of your new found messiah's have spoken on this issue. Why you don't know about this is appalling.

Mogidi:


If we believe that politicians only make noise, is Bubu exempt from this noise making?

hinwazaka:

You have a degree in economics and government. What discipline is economics and government. Political science students only treat the science of economics in their 100 and 200 level, so I don't know who gave you your combined degree in economics and government. And since you are an authority in Economics, answer this question: What is the significance of BRETTON WOODS to the science of modern economics

PDPwayoo:


u r sick. I will recommend psychiatric hospital in Uselu, Benin city for you. Yaba treatment is not working for you.

mrvitalis:
Tonye... the fact that people actually praise ur analysis shows the level of decay in Nigerian educational system
Let me educate u a little bit
1) a minister is a mere representative of the president in that ministry
2) the president can pass his directives or give instructions based on his manifesto to any ministery WITH OR WITHOUT A MINISTER
3) ministers are only needed when the president wants to reduce the work load on him.... And if the president is not complaining..... I wonder y u should.. ....
..

Ikiriye:

When there are issues or presentations,is it the perm.sec that acts or the ministers.first world govt.don't do without ministers why should gullible Nigerians see things this way.

henryuzor:

Mumu,zombie eeediot.....alll the FEC meetings that ur drunkard from otuoke held for 6 years....where is the result?

Acidosis:


meaning he didn't do anything in the era of Abacha; he only made a lot of noise

Mogidi:


We were warned about Buhari's intransigence and hotheadedness, even if he were to appoint ministers, it would still be Buhari's way or no way.
Buhari remains an autocrat, he is incapable of transiting to democracy, his rumoured democratic ideals are what they are ... rumours.

AZeD1:

I suggest you take a course in logic.
The "Ministers of the federation are partisan in scope" is wrong because you cannot prove it and i cannot take your word because it means nada.

The fact that a minister was appointed by a president doesn't mean the minister is loyal to the president.

MosquitoREBIRTH:
YES. I hope you'll believe him now when he says they are noise makers?

BraniacX:


And who appoints you likewise a judge on intelligence? now you can jejely extrapolate your judgement (not mine) to yourself