Jonathan advised against large cabinet
Pointblanknews
The Welfare Director, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Dr Olubayode Awosika, on Monday, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reduce the size of his cabinet.
Awosika was reacting to reported clash of views by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidential Advisory Committee on cabinet formation. He said that one of the problems of governance in Nigeria was bloated cabinet at all levels of government.
“We do not need ministries with two ministers because it is a waste of the tax payers’ funds,” he said. “There are capable civil servants who can assist ministers in their jobs. It is better for the president to tow the path of wisdom and the understanding of the wishes of Nigerians at a time like this.”
According to Awosika, the reduction in the cost of running a cabinet with single ministers will help the president achieve more in other areas. “In a country with a federal character arrangement, it may be hard for the president to do certain things as he would want to carry every part along,” he said.
“However, he should leave the selection of the National Assembly officers to the members in order not to compromise their independence. Every arm of the government is supposed to be independent to the level that allows the application of the principle of checks and balances to work.”
Awosika was reacting to reported clash of views by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidential Advisory Committee on cabinet formation. He said that one of the problems of governance in Nigeria was bloated cabinet at all levels of government.
“We do not need ministries with two ministers because it is a waste of the tax payers’ funds,” he said. “There are capable civil servants who can assist ministers in their jobs. It is better for the president to tow the path of wisdom and the understanding of the wishes of Nigerians at a time like this.”
According to Awosika, the reduction in the cost of running a cabinet with single ministers will help the president achieve more in other areas. “In a country with a federal character arrangement, it may be hard for the president to do certain things as he would want to carry every part along,” he said.
“However, he should leave the selection of the National Assembly officers to the members in order not to compromise their independence. Every arm of the government is supposed to be independent to the level that allows the application of the principle of checks and balances to work.”
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