Are Ministers Now Answerable to the Chief-of-Staff? By Kehinde Abdulsalam
At the Presidential retreat for ministerial designates, President Muhammadu Buhari directed all ministers to direct all executive matters to his Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
“In terms of coordination, kindly ensure that all submissions for my attention or meeting requests be channeled through the Chief of Staff, while all Federal Executive Council matters be coordinated through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Buhari said.
However, this announcement did not go without barrage of reactions from Nigerians judging from the controversies and issues raised against Buhari’s ‘most powerful’ appointee, Abba Kyari.
One of Kyari’s critics is the first lady, Aisha Buhari who had on several occasions complained about the powers Kyari wielded in her husband’s government.
In 2018, during a National Women Leadership Summit, organised by Project 4+4 for Bujari/Osinbajo 2019 campaign in Abuja, Aisha had complained that her husband could not achieve much because two powerful men, who ‘did not contest election’ were holding him back.
The President’s wife is not the only person who had openly criticised Kyari and others believed to have hijacked Buhari’s government. In September 2016, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai had in an open described the then SGF, Babachir Lawal and Abba Kyari as “clueless” and “inexperienced”.
Addressing Buhari in a letter, El-Rufai said, amongst others: “You appear to have neither a political adviser nor a minder of your politics. The two officials whose titles may enable them function as such generally alienate those that contributed to our success. The SGF is not only inexperienced in public service but is lacking in humility, insensitive and rude to virtually most of the party leaders, ministers and governors. The Chief of Staff is totally clueless about the APC and its internal politics at best as he was neither part of its formation nor a participant in the primaries, campaigns and elections. In summary, neither of them has the personality, experience and the reach to manage your politics, nationally or even regionally.”
While many have defended Buhari’s position saying it is a standard procedure for the SGF or his Chief of Staff to interface with the ministers, the question on the lips of many is: Are Ministers now answerable to the SGF/CoS?
Judging from the unbridled influence the occupiers of the two offices had wielded in the past, it is important to highlight the implication/salient questions Buhari’s decision might have on the ministers and their performance in office:
Power to see Buhari lies with them: Judging from the event of the past, who sees the President and who doesn’t is now in the hands of the SGF/CoS. In 2017, the powerful Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari ‘prevented family members of the President having access to him. Could it be that the same scenario might play out with the ministers who are not on the good books of the ‘powerful’ aide?
Limited Knowledge of Policy Direction: When you don’t have direct access to your boss as a minister, the implication is that the policy direction of the government and useful advice might be hindered. It was noticed that most of the technorats in Buhari’s first tenure couldn’t take decisive action as they had to watch the President’s body language before they could act.
It would seem that the decision of the President is ill advised and not in the interests of the country and it could further encourage in-fighting between his ministers and his kitchen cabinet.