Keyamo to Buhari: Junior Minister Designation Constitutional Aberration
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has told President Muhammadu Buhari in plain language that it was a constitutional aberration to appoint Minister of State.
This was as another Minister of state, Rahmatu Tijani, canvassed outright for the scrapping of the portfolio by the next administration.
Keyamo, who spoke at the valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, declared that the concept or designation of “Minister of State” was a constitutional aberration "and practically not working for many so appointed."
He thanked Buhari for enriching his Curriculum Vitae, through the appointment, but noted that some other Ministers of State, had been grumbling and not bold to speak out.
"Successive governments have come and gone and many, who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the presidents, who appointed them."
According to him, it was difficult to assess the individual performances of the Ministers of State since their discretion was shackled under the discretion of the substantive ministers as any original ideas developed by a Minister of State were subject to clearance by another colleague in cabinet before they could sail through for consideration by FEC.
The minister who read from a prepared text, stated, inter alia: "Today, I cannot find the words to express the depth of my gratitude to you for finding me worthy, out of over two hundred million Nigerians, to be nominated and subsequently appointed to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My curriculum vitae has been greatly enhanced – forever.
"From my very humble beginnings in a small dusty town in Delta State, where I was born and raised by my struggling parents, all the way to the Council Chambers at the Presidential Villa, where I had the honour and privilege to participate weekly in decisionmaking for my country in the last four years, it has been like a fairy tale. I give God all the glory.
"What I am about to say, therefore, is not and should not be construed as an indication of ingratitude. Far from it. What I am about to say is just my own little contribution to our constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimise the performance of those they appoint as Ministers.
"Mr. President, the concept or designation of “Minister of State” is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed. Successive governments have come and gone and many, who were appointed as Ministers of State have not spoken out at a forum such as this because of the risk of sounding ungrateful to the presidents, who appointed them. However, like I said earlier, this is not ingratitude.”
Relieving her experience, Minister of state for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rahmatu Aliyu, lamented how the Minister of state office limited capacity and talent in her four year stay in FCT.
“if you are appointed, if you serve your state, if you underwent the same training, you attend the same FEC representing your people. Why then is your voice hinged upon another minister’s voice? Why is lack of planning on another minister’s part an emergency on yours? Why is the label ineptitude now the label you will carry if he should fail?
“All these should be looked into by the next administration to put the country in the good path of trajectory. Let me tell you this, if and only if, and that is the little minus I saw in this administration, all ministers were allowed to perform, the performances of the government and the achievement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, I'll beat my chest they cannot be equaled,” She said.