It
was President Shehu Shagari who first introduced the idea of having
Ministers of State in a presidential system of government. He could be
excused for the introduction, for he was a graduate of the First
Republic when junior ministers were allowed during the parliamentary
system.
Section 135 subsection 2 of the 1979 Constitution
made provisions for nomination of ministers and not ministers of state.
Since President Shagari made that initial mistake, every elected
president in Nigeria had followed suit.
On
October 18, 1979, he nominated the following ministers for Senate
approval–ministers with cabinet rank: M. Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan
(Bauchi); M. Adamu Ciroma (Borno); Mr. Isaac Shaahu and Mr. Paul Unongo
(Benue); Prof Iya Abubakar (Gongola); Alhaji Umaru Dikko and Prof.
Ishaya Audu (Kaduna); Alhaji Bello Maitama Yusuf (Kano); Alhaji Akanbi
Oniyangi (Kwara); Alhaji Ndagi Mamadu (Niger); Mrs Adenike Ebun Oyagbola
(Ogun); Mr. Samuel Adebisi Ogedengbe (Ondo); Chief Richard Akinjide
(Oyo); Mr. John Jatau Kadiya and Mr. Gorge Baba Hoomkwap (Plateau); Mr.
Victor Masi (Rivers); Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau (Sokoto); Mr. D.C. Ugwu and
Mr.Chimezie Ikeazor (Anambra); Prof. Sunday Matthew Essang (Cross
River); Mr. Israel Amadi Emina (Bendel); Dr. Sylvester Ugoh and Dr. I.I.
Maduike (Imo), and Dr. Wahab Olaseinde Dosunmu (Lagos).
Other
ministers with non-cabinet rank were Alhaji Ahmed Musa (Bauchi); Chief
P. Bolokor (Bendel); Alhaji Asheikh Jarma (Borno); Alhaji Ali Baba
(Gongola); M. Iro Abubakar Dan-Musa (Kaduna); Alhaji Bilyamin Usman
(Kano); Mr. Ademola Thomas (Lagos); Chief Olu Awotesu (Ogun); Chief Mrs.
J. Akinrinade (Oyo); Alhaji Ahmudu Nahuce (Sokoto); Chief E. Okoi-Obuli
(Cross River); Mallam Mamman Ali Makele (Kwara); Mr. Cladius Agboola
Bamgboye (Ondo), and Dr. Jakiri Igbani (Rivers).
Two days later
at the Senate confirmation of the ministers at the committee stage,
Senators Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, Jonathan Odebiyi, Emmanuel Kayode
Ogunleye, David Olatunbosun Oke, Emeka Patrick Echeruo, Jaja Anucha
Wachukwu, Obi Wali, Emmanuel Idahosa Akpata, Stephen Adebanji Akintoye
and Senator F.O.M. Atake rejected the idea of junior ministers but
because the National Party of Nigeria were in the majority at that time,
President Shagari had his way.
Shortly after re-election, Shagari wrote to then Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, seeking confirmation for 35 ministers.
In
the letter dated October 17, 1983, he nominated the following: Chief
Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku and Mr. John Nwodo Jnr.(Anambra); Alhaji
Sule Katagum, Alhaji Ibrahim Tahir and Alhaji Magaji Mu’azu (Bauchi);
Chief J.A. Orhorho and Mr. Ralph Uwechue (Bendel); Mr. Audu Ogbeh and
Dr. E.Y. Atanu (Benue); Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari and
Alhaji Haliru Dantoro (Borno), Dr. Simi Johnson (Lagos), Senator
Idirisu Ibrahim (Niger), Chief Kehinde Sofola, SAN, Attorney-General of
the Federation (Ogun); Dr. Bode Olowoporoku (Ondo); Chief S.M. Afolabi
and Dr. Bimbo Akintola (Oyo); Alhaji Hassan Mohammed and Mr. Robert
Doshun Gumut (Plateau); Chief Okoi-Obuli and Dr. A.J. Okonno (Cross
Rivers); Alhaji Ali Baba and Mr. Paul Wampana (Gongola); Chief Emmanuel
Adiele(Imo), Dr.Umaru Dikko and Alhaji Isma’ila Isa (Kaduna), Alhaji
Yusuf Maitama Sule, C.F.R., Alhaji Bilyamin Usman and Alhaji Hamisu Musa
(Kano); Dr. Ishmael Igbani and Mrs. E. Diete-Spiff (Rivers); Alhaji
Muhammadu Lugga, Alhji Idirisu Koko and Alhaji Bala Sokoto(Sokoto).
After
seizing power from President Shagari on December 31, 1983, the then
Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in January 1984 reduced the ministers to 15
without appointing any as ministers of state. The following were his
ministers: Maj Gen. Domkat Bali (Defence); Dr. Buka Shuaib
(Agriculture); Dr Mammoud Tukur (Trade); Col. A. Abdullahi
(Communications); Alhaji Yerima Ibrahim (Education); Dr. Onaolapo
Sholeye (Finance); Major Gen. Mamman Jaya Vatsa (FCT, Abuja); Dr.
Emmanuel Nsan (Health); Maj. Gen. Muhammed Magoro (Internal Affairs);
Dr. Ibrahim Gambari (Foreign Affairs); Group Captain Sampson Omeruah
(Information); Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (Transportation); Prof. Tam
David-West (Petroleum); Rear Admiral Patrick Koshoni (Works and Housing)
and Chief Chike Offodile (Attorney General and Minister of Justice).
On
seizing power from Buhari on December 31, 1984, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida
increased the ministers to 22 on September 12, 1985. The following were
his ministers: Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Agriculture, Water Resources
and Rural Development); Lt. Col. Tanko Ayuba (Communications); Maj. Gen.
Domkat Bali (Defence Secretary and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff);
Prof. Jubril Aminu (Education); Rear Admiral Patrick Koshoni
(Employment, Labour and Productivity, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (External
Affairs); Maj. Gen. Mamman Vatsa (Federal Capital Territory); Dr. Kalu
Idika Kalu (Finance); Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti (Health); Alhaji Lawal
Mala (Industries); Lt. Col. Anthony Ukpo (Information); Lt Col. John
Nanzip Shagaya (Internal Affairs); Prince Bola Ajibola (Justice); Alhaji
Rilwanu Lukman (Mines and Power); Dr. Chu Okongwu (National Planning);
Prof. Tam David-West (Petroleum Resources); Lt. Col. Ahmed Abdullahi
(Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture); Prof. Emanuel Emovon
(Science and Technology); Air Vice-Marshal Ishaya Aboi Shekari (Special
Duties); Maj. Gen. Gado Nasko (Trade); Brig. Jeremiah Useni (Transport
and Aviation) and Air Comdr Hamza Abdullahi (Works and Housing).
Between
Gen Sani Abacha, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubukar,
ministers of states were appointed but their cabinets were not more than
26 ministers.
However, in 1999, it was President Olusegun
Obasanjo who had the largest list of ministers to date with 51. They are
Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Chief Chris Agbobu, Engr.
Mustafa Bello, Alhaji Mohammed Adzika, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Alhaji
L. Ade. Haruna-Elewi, Mrs Modupe Adelaja, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Amb.
Hassan Adamu, Mallam Lawal Tukur Batagarawa, Dr. Imeh T. Okopido, Arc.
Ibrahim Bunu, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Mr. Solomon S.A. Ewuga, Sen. Jubril
Martins-Kuye, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Dr. Tim N. Menakaya, Chief Dubem
Oniya, Dr. (Mrs.) Aminat Ndalolo, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Chief Ojo Maduekwe,
Chief Lawarence Nwuruku, Chief Dapo Sarumi, Chief S.M. Afolabi J.P.,
Prof. Jerry Gana, Dr. Mohammed Shata, Kanu Godwin Agabi (SAN), Alabo
Tonye Graham-Douglas, Chief Phillip C. Asiodu, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman,
Maj. Gen. David Jemibewon, Chief Bola Ige (SAN), Muhammed Bello Kirfi,
Alhaji Danjuma Goje, Vincent Ogbulafor, Ibrahim Umar Kida, Chief Ebitimi
E. Banigo, Engr. Dan Chuke, Mrs. Pauline K. Tallen, Alhaji Musa
Gwadabe, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemafo N. Chikwe, Dr. Bekky K. Igweh, Alhaji Bello
Usman, Col. M. Bello Kaliel, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Precious Ngelale
J.P., Isaiah C. Balat, Hajia Aishatu M.S. Ismail, Damishi Tonson Sango
and Mr. Yomi Edu.
Both President Umaru Yar’dua and outgoing
President Goodluck Jonathan have since maintained the culture of
appointing ministers of state.
However, one of the major tasks
before the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, now is the compilation of
his list of ministers. Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution as amended
dictates that he must have 36 ministers from the 36 states but the
section does not dictate that he should have ministers of states.
Indeed, having a large cabinet might prove unwise.
- Eric Teniola is a former director at the presidency
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