Why Nigeria's Cabinet is so Large And Complicated

Nigeria hasn't had cabinet ministers since May and that by implication means the wheel of governance had to be cautiously driven and slow. Appointing Ministers in Nigeria is simply not butter and bread. Maybe Buhari knows more.

On Wednesday, August 22nd 2019 new cabinet ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari were sworn in and given respective portfolios. They are 43 in all (check the list below). Africa's most populous country has over the decades mortgaged simplicity in governance for the sake of ethno-religious and political calculations. The list of the ministers showcases the bottleneck policy of federal character to allow every of the 36 federating units to be represented. 

Some ministries had to be duplicated to accommodate this arrangement, thereby having for instance a Minister in charge of Education and another in charge of state for Education. You may never be able to hear from ministers of states for the next four years as they seem to be deputy ministers but designated as ministers - ceremonial ministers. Basically, there are senior ministers and junior ministers.

The president can appoint even more without necessarily having to establish new ministries through the parliament. He can single-handedly name a ministry as he deem fit. A state governor once had a minister in charge of stomach infrastructure. Also, splitting and merging of ministries make functions mixed up. A ministry of works and housing can subsume projects which rationally should be under transportation ministry. Another government may split or harmonize them.

The heterogeneous nature of Nigeria presents leaders to be politically correct. It doesn't have to be right. No president since 1999 has been able to summon the courage to make the center light. There seems to be distrust if any government appoints more people from a particular ethnic or religious group than others. This administration has also been criticized for what some refer to as lopsided appointments, especially of top military personnel. So, what do you do in this complicated system?

Yes, many ministers at the federal level with their assistants, escorts and other personnel to work with, a company with huge debt burden shouldn't be dealing with that. However, it does curb the ethnic rantings and ease tensions for now.

At the end, it is hoped that these set of individuals can effectively deliver on the yearnings and aspirations of over 200 million Nigerians and bring many out of poverty.

List of Ministers Appointed By Muhammadu Buhari and there states of origin.

1) Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah – Abia, Mines and Steel Development, State

2) Muhammed Musa Bello – Adamawa, FCT

3) Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio – Akwa Ibom, Niger Delta

4) Chris Ngige – Anambra, Labour & Employment

5) Sharon Ikeazor – Anambra, Environment, State.

6) Adamu Adamu – Bauchi, Education

7) Amb Maryam Katagum – Bauchi, Industry, Trade and Investment, State

8) Timipre Silva – Bayelsa, Petroleum, State

9) Sen. George Akume – Benue, Special Duties

10) Mustapha Baba Shehuri – Borno, Agriculture, State

11) Godwin Jedi-Agba – Cross River, Power, State

12) Festus Keyamo – Delta, Niger Delta, State

13) Ogbonnaya Onu - Ebonyi, Science and Technology

14) Dr. Osagie Ehanire – Edo, Health

15) Clement Ikanade Agba – Edo, Budget and National Planning, State..

16) Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo – Ekiti, Industry, Trade and Investment

17) Geoffrey Onyeama – Enugu, Foreign Affairs

18)Dr. Ali Isa Pantami – Gombe, Communication

19) Emeka Nwajuba - Imo, Education, State

20) Suleiman Adamu – Jigawa, Water Resources

21) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed – Kaduna, Finance, Budget and National Planning

22) Dr. Mohammad Mahmoud – Kaduna, Environment

23) Mohammed Sabo Nanono – Kano, Agriculture

24) Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd) - Kano, Defence

25) Hadi Sirika – Katsina, Aviation

26) Abubakar Malami – Kebbi (HAGF and Minister of Justice)

27) Ramatu Tijani Aliyu – Kogi (Minister of state, FCT)

28) Lai Mohammed – Kwara (Minister of Information and Culture)

29) Gbemisola Saraki – Kwara (Minister of state, Transportation)

30) Babatunde Raji Fashola – Lagos (Minister of Works and Housing)

31) Adeleke Mamora – Lagos, Health, State

32) Mohammed A. Abdullahi – Nasarawa, Science & Tech, State

33) Amb. Zubairu Dada – Niger, Foreign Affairs, State

34) Olamilekan Adegbite – Ogun, Mines & Steel Devpt

35) Sen. Omotayo Alasuadura - Ondo, Labour, State

36) Rauf Aregbesola – Osun, Interior

37) Sunday Dare – Oyo, Youth and Sports

38) Dame Pauline Tallen – Plateau, Women Affairs

39) Rotimi Amaechi – Rivers, Transportation

40) Mohammed Maigari Dangyadi – Sokoto, Police Affairs

41) Engr. Sale Mamman – Taraba, Power

42) Abubakar D. Aliyu – Yobe, Works and Housing, State

43) Sadiya Umar Faruk – Zamfara, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

Majority of the ministers does not have a clue of the portfolio being given.

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