Does Buhari need performance pact?

However, this performance contract by the executive whilst commendable, cast shadows on the legislature. Monitoring of government projects and oversight of ministries is one of the key functions of the legislature. Perhaps their failure to carry out that function convincingly may have necessitated that pact. With this, we expect the National Assembly, having been elected by the people to monitor on behalf of the people to so do in order to complement what the President Buhari will be about. Or at least, act as monitor to the monitors. Although, with Dr. Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate, we are hopeful the legislature will bounce back to full reckoning. On the other hand, the Bureau of Public Procurement was to ensure that budgets meet the value that is attached to specific projects. Whether that agency has discharged its duties creditably well or not is left to debate. Therefore, the performance contract if adopted by Buhari should not create another red tape. It should not be used to witch-hunt and must never constitute another circle of corruption. Since the president will heavily rely on documents, official testimonies and briefings, we hope those charged with the evaluation process will not turn it against others in other to undermine them. We hope that the evaluation will be done honestly with every sense of patriotism. Also, this is another way of telling the president to ensure that less political considerations should be placed on national appointments if he truly wants them to be properly evaluated. A situation where a square peg is forced into a round hole should be de-emphasised. Just the same way that certain appointees to certain positions must come from a particular part of the country should be completely done away with. This is so to avoid political appointees using their ill-motivated postings as alibi for poor implementation of budgetary provisions. It is one thing to make estimates, source and provide funds for projects; it’s quite another not to be capable of discharging that responsibility. If there were no funds, that will be understandable, but where there are budgeted funds, yet officials lack the capacity to execute should no longer be tolerated. Therefore, we recommend this policy for President Buhari’s consideration. Since we know he is a meticulous person, this kind of assessment will do his government good and Nigerians better.

#editorial