Ministerial Nominees: At Last, Jonathan Accepts Okonjo–Iweala’s Demands

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Top Stories, Women Politics Friday, July 1st, 2011

At last, the former Minister of Finance and currently the Managing Director of the World Bank, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, president Goodluck Jonathan has sealed an agreement that has paved the way for her to return to the cabinet to turn the country’s ailing economy around.

Barring any last minute delay, Okonjo Iweala’s name with four nominees representing Kaduna, Plateau, Ondo and Akwa Ibom would be read on the Senate floor next week Tuesday when the upper house of the national Assembly resumes plenary.

The development came just as the Senate had defended the slow pace of screening, saying that it had statutory 21 days to carry out the onerous function. A source close to the Senate said, “We will conclude by the end of next week for the president to have a complete cabinet. We are not in breach of the constitution after all, the law allows us 21 days within which to screen and confirm the nominees, before the talk of the president declaring them ministers unilaterally.”

But, LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that Okonjo-Iweala has finally agreed to return to the federal cabinet where she last served as minister of foreign affairs before she voluntarily resigned to take up her present job at the World Bank.

It was learnt that she had insisted among other conditions to be allowed to pick the presidency’s economic team solely without any interference and to be allowed to chart and direct the economy, though in line with the transformation agenda without any intrusion by the president.

“She specifically asked that she be given free hand to direct the economic agenda. Initially it looked like a tall order for the president to completely hands off his economic agenda to be managed by external factors.

On careful review, it was realised that every effort to make the economy succeed is welcomed and the president, it was said, is very serious to see the implementation of his transformation agenda and Okonjo-Iweala is also a very passionate person about the economic growth of the country. So the presidency agreed to her terms”, said a source.

But it was learnt that the highly respected technocrat may have dropped the other condition, which was said to be alleged insistence to be paid in dollars. A source in the senate added that the woman had dropped the demand, on the grounds of its unconstitutionality.

“It is now a give and take-like agreement. Her name would be read on the floor on Tuesday, when Senate resumes plenary to continue with the screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees.

“Okonjo-Iweala and the other four new nominees would join others to face the screening process next week”, the source added.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND nonetheless learnt that the deadlock in negotiation made her name not to be listed in the list earlier forwarded to the Senate. It was gathered that a fresh snag cropped up on the specific portfolio to be assigned to her.

“It was said that the presidency contemplated the National Planning and Finance. But the trouble was that another financial expert like Olusegun Aganga was nominated and is expected to return to the position.

At this point, the presidency’s plan to scrap the Minister of State position came to the rescue. In that case, they may decide to have more than two substantive ministers in key ministries like finance, National Planning, Petroleum and Foreign Affairs. Each of the ministers would be assigned specific areas of relative importance”, the source added.
The Senate had screened and confirmed 14 nominees as ministers. Meanwhile, President Jonathan will today swear-in the 14 ministers .

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