This got me wondering or for the lack of a better word, I thought it absurd for the names to have gone to the Nigeria senate at the first instance. I will come out to this much later after I have touched on traditions in other climes that we seem to look up to a.k.a the U.S and the U.K.
In the U.K, there are no confirmation hearings. This way, the Prime Minister can appoint absolutely anyone he feels can serve under any portfolio as minister. The parliament cannot question his decision whatsoever. This means that a minister can oversee a ministry without have the prerequisite knowledge of the workings of that ministry.
The civil servants are relied upon with the minister being just a manager. It was in the news a couple of days ago that Mr. Boris Johnson, the new U.K prime minister appointed his brother as minister and heaven did not fall. This system of appointing ministers also affords the P.M the opportunity to reshuffle his cabinet seamlessly from time to time, case in point, a Sajid Javid can be Home Secretary for a year and Chancellor of the Exchequer( a.k.a Finance Minister), the next year.
In the U.S of A on the other hand, there are confirmation hearings for a president's cabinet nominees. Their qualifications, expertise and experience are thoroughly questioned and examined. Their knowledge of the agency or department they are being assigned to lead, is extensively queried. A president's appointee can be rejected by the Senate.
I put that of the USA in bold letters so that you can immediately see immediately contrast the difference between both obviously tested and trusted systems, which is quite interesting.
Nigeria seems to be a Pseudo UK/USA system, where some are asked to now and go and some others quizzed, some more intense than others. The “engineers” of this system probably have the best intentions but I am always averse to copying for the sake of it.
How well has Nigeria fared with this system of screening the president’s Cabinet members? Is there a review? Can a better system be enacted? Is there a need for screening at all in terms of the time, energy and resources expended?
After all said and done, I cannot wait to see how people like Fashola will do this time in whatever capacity and how a “newbie” such as Sunday Dare will fare because I thought most of them were thoroughly brilliant.
—— Oladele Fameso
