The National President of the Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy, Igbini Emmanuel, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to retain the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Emmanuel said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, even as the ministers-designate are expected to be assigned portfolios in the next 48 hours.
He said the call became imperative “in view of very disturbing increase in reported cases of corruption and massive looting of our oil revenues by some top political appointees and some top management staff of the petroleum ministry and its parastatals.”
Emmanuel added that Buhari made mistakes in his first term by merging some critical ministries, which he claimed led to the failure of the ministries to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“The merger of Power, Works and Housing Ministries was a fatal mistake that should be corrected in the next Federal Executive Council meeting.
“The three ministries should be independent and headed by three substantive ministers, not ministers of state.
“Also, the Ministry of Youths and Sports should be made independent and headed by two substantive ministers in view of the critical roles youths and sports independently play in the development of Nigeria.
“Also, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism should be unbundled into Ministry of Information, as well as Ministry of Culture and Tourism respectively.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should also be separated and made independent.
“Ministry of Orientation should be established, to be headed by a minister.
“There should also be established, separate ministries for Tertiary and Secondary/Primary Education,” he added.
