Opinion
Fulfilling a Promise: Tinubu’s Cabinet That Reflects Nigeria
By Suleiman Abdul-Azeez
On March 15 2023, Nigerian voters trooped out enmasse to offer a verdict for their future by comprehensively trusting Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the country through and out of its current limitations around security and the economy, into a future in which people will live secure lives and pursue livelihoods in a united Nigeria whose resources will be protected by leaders.
The voters were quite aware as well, that until Nigeria gets to where it wants to be, it will be President Bola Tinubu’s lot to assemble the Nigerians to advise him and take forward his vision. He will need people who will convey his concerns and compassion; who will reach and bring comfort to millions who suffer in an economy under stress; and people who will combine his personal integrity with competence and commitment.
Obviously working to meet these incredible voter expectations, President Tinubu’s proposed cabinet is one that promises to be the most diverse in Nigeria’s recent history, comprising more women and young people than the cabinet before it — which, in many ways, fulfills his campaign promise to select a team that will lead to better outcomes and more effective solutions to address the urgent crises facing the nation and modernize the predominantly male, elderly institution.
President Bola Tinubu campaigned to have a government as diverse as Nigeria, and so far, the nominations to his cabinet include several historic appointments; each also sheds further light on how the Tinubu administration will govern as it tackles multiple political, economic and security crises roiling the nation.
Already, the Senate has confirmed all but three of Tinubu’s choices, more than half of his 48-member cabinet will be young people and female, according to an analysis by a group which tracks diversity in Nigerian government.
And there will be other notable firsts: In addition to the barrier-breaking Vice President Kashim Shettima of the same faith with the President, and in positions beyond the cabinet — like senior presidential aides – the administration is “at parity or better than” the makeup of all the elected administraions that preceded it.
Traditionally, vice presidents were not given much authority, but that position has grown in stature with the onset of the Tinubu administration, and is already becoming one of the most influential positions in government, as former Vice President Shettima is demonstrating.
In the last administrations, cabinets — which can change in size if the president decides to elevate certain positions — were predominantly male and young people made up no more than 5 percent.
No matter from which prism one decides to look at the data for the Tinubu preparation for governance – whether looking at the cabinet or at the presidency staff – one is going to see the same commitment to diversity.
The levels of diversity in Tinubu’s ministerial nomination list are particularly notable when compared with the numbers in the National Assembly. The representation of women in the 10th Assembly is not a significant improvement from the outgone 9th Assembly. The 10th Assembly has women occupying 3 out of 109 seats (2.7%) in the Senate and 17 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives (4.7%), which represents 4.2% of the 469-member Assembly.
But checking off a list of diverse candidates is one thing. It is quite another to give diverse candidates a true voice and an opportunity to shape policies. In this regard, Tinubu’s biggest breakthrough is that he’s appointing different people to different jobs.
People with intimidating political credentials and record of performance in government such as Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, a politician and teacher who served as the governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
A core grassroots man, Matawalle’s career started as a teacher at Government Girls College, Moriki and Kwatarkoshi before joining the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Matawalle’s first shot at politics was in 1998 when he ran for a house of assembly seat and won under the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) which had such big-name politicians as Ambassador Isa Aliyu Mohammed Argungu (Sarkin Yakin Kabbi) Ibrahim Gusau, Atiku Abubakar, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Attahiru Bafarawa, Adamu Aliero, Suleiman Takuma, Ibrahim Kura Mohammed, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki and Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya.
Between 1999 and 2003 Matawalle served as Zamfara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports.
He was elected into the House of Representatives by his constituents Bakura/Maradun in May 2003 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
Matawalle was re-elected in 2007 still on the platform of the ANPP, switched to the PDP on the platform of which he was re-elected for a third term in 2011.
In the governorship election of March 2019, Matawalle polled 189,452 as against the 534,541 votes for Muktar Idris, the APC candidate who was declared winner before the court of appeal in Sokoto ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to him.
The Supreme Court later pronounced that the votes cast for the APC in the election as wasted and ordered that the candidate with the second highest votes be sworn in because the APC failed to conduct primary election for all the candidates in Zamfara State.
On June 27, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Media aide Bashir Ahmad said Matawalle had joined the APC which was later confirmed by Matawalle’s spokesperson Ibrahim Dosara.
He participated actively in the campaign for the victory of Tinubu not only in the North-west where he was coordinator, but all across the three zones of Northern Nigeria mobilising the youth and all significant components of the northern society into the mainstream of the Asiwaju campaign activities.
At the risk of overstating the issue, one can safety and boldly say that with the nomination of Matawalle and others like him, Tinubu has proved that he is a leader that identifies, recognizes and rewards loyalty and selfless service.
With no fear of contradiction, Matawalle is on record as a meticulous mobilizer of men and resources whose mobilization strategies involved every significant component of Northern society by embarking on a massive campaign to make the Asiwaju movement felt among the Northern intelligentsia, religious and community leaders, students in higher institutions as well as the business community and brought them into the mainstream of its activities.
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.