- A mixed bag of the good, bad, ugly – LACMON President
- Underrepresentation of women can have negative effects on policy-making – CWON 1st Vice President
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s ministerial cabinet has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians. While some applauded the President for his pick, others were critical of the appointments. Recent on the trail of reactions are Barr. Vincent Otiono, President of the Lagos Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (LACMON) who described the ministerial cabinet of the 47 as a composite of the good, bad and ugly, and Mrs. Esther Izokpo, 1st Vice President, Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria (CWON), whose views centred on marginalisation of women.
The lay leaders made these remarks while reacting to the recent inauguration of the ministers by President Tinubu in Abuja. Barr. Otiono said, “The ministers could be likened to a mixed bag containing the good, the bad and the Ugly. We have some capable hands in the team while the majority are those appointed as compensation for their services during the electioneering. In a dysfunctional system, we keep praying for God to grant them the wisdom to turn things for the better.” The LACMON President stressed the need for proper supervision and monitoring to ensure that the ministers performed to benefit Nigerians.
According to Barr. Otiono, previous administrations condoned poor performances, and that was why those who did not deliver, yet, remained as cabinet members throughout the duration of the preceding administrations. In same vein, the 1st Vice President of CWON urged the ministers to demonstrate total commitment, dedication, and professionalism in discharging their duties. She however decried the underrepresentation of women in the ministerial positions, stressing that it can have negative consequences on policy-making and development efforts. Mrs. Izokpu added that studies have shown that diverse teams with gender parity tend to bring about more balanced decisions and policies that address the needs and concerns of different segments of the society.
