NASS Can Prune Ministers’ List – Okocha

As Nigerians groan under the high cost of governance in the present democratic dispensation, a legal luminary in Rivers State and former National President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief O.C.J Okocha, has said that only the National Assembly can effect reduction in the number of ministers in the country.

Chief Okocha who said this while reacting to the call by the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) to reduce the number of ministers, said that the presidency was right to have rejected the call.

The former NBA President who spoke in a telephone interview with The Tide on the issue said that the National Assembly could decide the number of ministerial appointments in the country through the amendment of the constitution.

He said that although it was the wish of Nigerians for the country to have a small size and efficient cabinet, constitutionally, the Federal Executive Council must reflect the 36 states of the federation.

Chief Okocha, however, stressed the need for the National Assembly to take a second look at the issue by amending the relevant sections of the constitution.

President Goodluck Jonathan had said that he preferred a leaner and more efficient cabinet but was constrained by constitutional provisions.

Jonathan stated this at a valedictory session with members of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC), who had wound up their assignments.

According to him, the federal cabinet in the country was large due to the constitutional provision which stipulates that each state of the country must produce a minister.

“Your suggestion for a smaller cabinet is excellent and I agree with you, but this cannot be achieved without constitutional amendment,’’ he said.

The president said, however, that the suggestions and advice which PAC offered to the government played a key role in stabilising the administration.

He assured the members that their final report would form part of the policy direction of the incoming administration.

Jonathan thanked them for accepting to serve the nation in spite of their individual schedules, and informed them that the Federal Government would continue to tap from their wealth of experience in the years ahead.

Earlier, the Chairman of PAC, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, said they were privileged to have been selected to proffer advice to the new administration.

He advised the president to apply the same diligence he applied in selecting the PAC members to the appointment of his new cabinet from among the abundant qualified Nigerians willing to serve the country.

Our correspondent  recalled that the committee was constituted by Jonathan as acting president on March 1 and was inaugurated on May 5 last year.

Jonathan had charged the members to provide alternative inputs into policy formulation in the areas of power, economy, security, infrastructure, social sector, electoral process and anti-corruption

In a related development, experts in policy making have lauded the directive by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Presidential Advisory Council to review the country’s foreign policy.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Dr Joseph Golwa, the Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, said there was the need to review the policy.

Describing the directive as apt and proper, Golwa said the review would provide a clear leadership direction for the new administration.

According to him, given Nigeria’s present role in the international community, the community was expecting a lot from the country.

“I use the word apt and timely because it’s to provide the clear direction for the new cabinet on what they are expected to focus on as far as our foreign policy is concerned.

“The international community is expecting to have some major positions from Nigeria and this statement coming like this shows that they would begin to have at the back of their minds that we are  expecting a very major, proactive position as far as foreign policy is concerned for Nigeria,” he said.

He stressed the need for key players in the sector to work in harmony for the successful implementation of the policy.

“Every policy will require the harmonious cooperation of every stakeholder for it to be successfully implemented and with issues of foreign policies you don’t expect anybody to play a different role if you are a major stakeholder.

“The co-operation of every other person is necessary because it is through such cooperation and shared views you will be able to get to achieve your objectives and mission,” he added.