Despite the passage of three months since their departure, the websites of certain federal government ministries continue to showcase the profiles and images of former ministers who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari. This anomaly has been revealed by a recent investigation conducted by Daily Trust.
Following President Buhari’s dissolution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 29, 2023, prior to transferring authority to the current President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lingering profiles and pictures of the previous ministers are still conspicuously featured on several government ministry websites.
Reports had circulated that the dissolution of FEC had occurred on May 24th during the final Federal Executive Council meeting. However, the then Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, countered these claims, confirming that the President had instructed ministers to continue their duties until May 29, which marked the conclusion of the administration’s tenure.
The ministries of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Education, Industry, Trade and Investment, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Water Resources, Women Affairs and Environment, as well as the Ministry of Justice, are among those that have yet to update their websites with the information of the new ministers. This situation persists over 90 days after the ministers’ departure and even after the inauguration of new ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on August 21.
Federal Capital Territory Administration:
Upon visiting the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) website, former Minister Mohammed Musa Bello’s image and his mission statement on FCTA’s transformation goals remain prominently displayed. Nyesom Wike, the new FCT minister, however, does not appear on the site.
Ministry of Education:
Similarly, the Ministry of Education’s website features a picture of the former Minister, Mal. Adamu Adamu, along with other outdated news stories. Professor Tahir Mamman, the new Minister of Education, vowed to work diligently in his new role, likening his approach to that of a diligent bricklayer.
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs:
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs showcases the profile of the former Minister, Sadiya Umar Sadiq, while the new Minister, Beta Edu’s, details are yet to be updated.
Ministry of Water Resources:
Despite Joseph Utsev’s appointment as Minister of Water Resources, the ministry’s website has not yet been updated with his information. The site continues to feature content related to the former Minister, Engr. Suleiman, along with Permanent Secretary Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
Ministry of Environment:
The Federal Ministry of Environment’s website retains the images of the former Minister, Mohammed Abdullahi, and the minister of state, although new appointments have been made in the ministry.
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment:
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s website lacks any information regarding the new Minister, Doris Anite, who now oversees the ministry after the departure of Otunba Niyi Adebayo.
Ministry of Women Affairs:
The Ministry of Women Affairs also lacks information about the new Minister, Uju Kennedy, who was recently appointed to succeed Pauline Tallen.
Ministry of Justice:
Similar circumstances are evident on the website of the Ministry of Justice, which fails to display the picture of the new Minister, Lateef Fagbemi. This ministry is notably managed by Fagbemi, succeeding Abubakar Malami.
Foreign Affairs, Transport, Aviation, and Others:
Contrarily, ministries like foreign affairs, transportation, aviation, information, power, works, and others have successfully updated their websites with the profiles and images of the new ministers.
Expert Insights:
Dahiru Balarabe, an IT expert, voiced his concerns, stating that ministries failing to maintain current information on their websites demonstrate a lack of seriousness. He noted that this shortcoming could potentially deter prospective international investors from taking Nigeria seriously. Balarabe stressed that keeping a website up to date is crucial, as it conveys the latest information to those seeking engagement with governmental bodies.
In the midst of Nigeria’s aspiration for foreign investments and collaborations, Balarabe emphasized the importance of immediate updates to rectify the discrepancies and ensure accurate representation.