A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Imo State, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, has urged President Tinubu to reward best performing ministers in his administration.
Nwosu pointed that the introduction of a reward system will help in promoting excellence among Nigerian ministers. He added that reward system will ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizens by the ministers.
Nwosu, a former Chief of Staff to the Governor of Imo State, urged President Bola Tinubu to reward the best performing ministers in his administration.
The former Chief of Staff to former Governor Rochas Owelle Okoroocha made this postulation, while speaking with journalists in Abuja. In the same vein, Nwosu also advocated that non-performing ministers should be sacked.
He said, “Let me stress that the President Tinubu administration is just getting to one year in office. When you look at the ministers that were appointed last year, people will be asking, ‘How many of them have done well?’
“But we should also be looking at a reward system, whereby ministers that perform well should be rewarded.
“In fact, if I am Mr. President, any minister that has performed wonderfully well should be given a national honour.”
The former governorship candidate of AA party in Imo State, noted that Tinubu has done well in several sectors. These, he said included infrastructural development and urban renewal in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. He, also, pointed at the finance and the solid minerals sector, among others.
“I will say that Mr. President has done well and this can be seen in various areas like FCT. Where we have seen infrastructural development. In the finance sector, where the Naira is appreciating. And in the solid minerals sector, where efforts are being made to generate revenue through mineral deposits. Also, some of the refineries are about to start production.
“There are some ministers that have performed well to the extent that everyone can feel it.
“In the FCT the minister, Nyesom Wike, has performed well. Before now, it seemed that some of the roads and bridges in the FCT will never be completed. There was a minister in the FCT over the last eight years and nothing was done. But in less than one year, we can feel the level of infrastructural development and urban renewal in the FCT. So many roads have been completed and are ready for completion.
“The administration has also made impact through the Ministry of Works. The minister, Umahi, has also done well. Before now, Ministers of works stay in Abuja and look at videos of projects. But Umahi goes to the field to monitor the projects to make sure that things are done well.
“Another area where the Tinubu’s Government has recorded laudable achievements is through the Ministry of Interior. Before now, getting a passport will take you like three, four months. As it is now, in less than two weeks you get your passport. That is the type of impact we need in the country now.
“You can also point to the finance sector, under the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun. The Dollar was rising and we thought it will never come down. But now, it is coming down.
“The solid minerals sector is another area where the Government is doing well. Are you aware that there were people that were given licences for more than 15 years? And they just kept the licences inside their pockets without making use of it? Meanwhile there are those who are ready to mine but they couldn’t get the licences. It is very good that the minister revoked all those inactive licenses.
“The Government has also been responsive on issues concerning gender, through the Minister of Women Affairs. That is what Nigerians want to see. If there is a problem somewhere, you see her there, trying to solve the problem.”
Nwosu, however, noted that some ministers have not lived up to expectations and should be relived of their positions.
He said, “One of the areas I don’t know whether they have a serious agenda for the country is the Ministry of Youths. For me that is the Ministry around which all the ministries should revolve. Because if you look at Nigeria’s population, it is almost 60 per cent young people. That Ministry needs to be rejigged to effectively address the issues concerning young people.
“Another area that is not doing as much as it should is Information. It is not the duty of Mr. President to come out everyday to talk about his achievements. It is not even the duty of the ministers to talk about their achievements. There is a Ministry that coordinates all the information concerning activities of the government. And that is the Ministry of Information.
“The Ministry of Information should let the people know what the Government is doing. Like right now, there is fuel scarcity but where is Information and National Orientation Minister, telling Nigerians what the Government is doing to address the problem? Rejig Ministry of Information, that is what the President needs to do.”
Nwosu also expressed reservations with the power sector,. He noted that the 300 per cent electricity tariff increment should be reversed. He maintained that it is for the sake of medium and small scale industries.
“Any minister that does not perform should be shown the way out. You cannot be in that office and you are not performing and because of that people are now abusing Mr. President.
“There are millions of Nigerians who are qualified and capable. So, anybody who cannot perform should not be in that office,” Nwosu said.
source: Daily Post
