Head of Research and Strategy at the Kimpact Development Initiative, Oluwafemi John Adebayo has praised the March 31 deadline for the resignation of political appointees, saying it will ensure a smooth government reshuffle and help prevent disqualifications.
He said this in a Tuesday interview with ARISE NEWS, discussing the resignation deadline for political appointees ahead of the 2027 elections.
”I think the March 31st deadline set by this administration has been very helpful. It safeguards against disqualification and helps the administration know exactly how many are resigning so they can reshuffle or find alternatives, send names to the Parliament at once, and ensure the governance process continues smoothly,” he stated.
Adebayo emphasised that the public must scrutinise political appointees’ achievements before they resign for elective positions.
“The question is: what have they done with the trust or office entrusted to them? I think that it is very important to ask for their scorecard because they are leaving one position and aiming for another,” he said.
He also said he expected more resignations, noting that while some names had circulated in the media, a few individuals later denied leaving their positions.
“My expectation was that there would be more. There were rumors around some of the individuals we heard breaking news about this evening, though some later denied it.”
Speaking on the importance of accountability, Adebayo highlighted that early disclosure of political ambitions helps maintain effective governance.
“I agree with that school of thought. It looks as if the business of governance for some of these individuals ended a couple of months ago, and we’re only seeing the realities now. We should have questions of this magnitude during screening. Even the President should safeguard governance from this lens. If you have an ambition, it shouldn’t just be a March 31st deadline; it should be declared way back, perhaps a year ago, so it doesn’t stop the process of governance,” Adebayo said.
Addressing the underperformance of ministers in Nigeria, Adebayo stressed that ministers’ performance hinges on the support and resources provided by the President.
“The buck stops on the table of the President. The failure of the Minister is also the failure of the President. They didn’t appoint themselves. If they are not doing what they’re supposed to do, or if the President is not giving them the resources they need, it’s a problem.”
Adding, Adebayo stressed that ministers’ visible performance, reflects their capacity and competence for higher public positions.
“There are ministers in this administration that Nigerians can see are performing, even without empirical data. If there are ministers unable to perform their duties, it’s a question of their capacity, character, and competence,” he stated.
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