ASUU and NECA Reject Ministerial List

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, have rejected the list of Ministerial nominees submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, describing it as lacking innovation.

ASUU, while reacting to the list through its President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, noted that Buhari did not attach portfolios to the names of the nominees.

Ogunyemi told reporters yesterday that, “The other observation is that there isn’t much innovation on the list. People are talking of a generation change and injecting fresh blood or a mixture of the old and the new.

“But the new names on the list are people who have been in the political circle for some time. I am sure the younger generation would have been looking out for a list that would have accommodated their interest and representation.”

Also reacting to the list of 43 nominees submitted yesterday, NECA noted that the list contained mostly names of recycled politicians. 

The Director-General, NECA, Timothy Olawale, in a statement yesterday, said Nigerians were disappointed having waited and expected to see some names of technocrats on the list.

He said that NECA discovered that the list contained mostly recycled politicians that were picked based on political patronage and mostly for their roles as party men.

He said, “We had expected that with the delay by the President in constituting his cabinet, the team would be populated by professionals that had distinguished themselves in their area of calling.

“That the selection would be based on merit and what they could offer by way of adding value to governance. While we cannot say those on the list cannot deliver on the government’s agenda, we note that they are mostly recycled politicians that are picked based on political patronage and mostly for their roles as party men.

“We had hoped party considerations would be set aside to assemble technocrats that could lead the nation out of its current economic doldrums.

“We only hope their tenure in office will be that of meritorious service to the nation and the good of the people and not marked by opportunity to recoup expenses incurred for political activities in the last elections. Nigerians are watching to assess them and it remains to be seen if they will selflessly live up to expectations.”