One could say that the probation period for President Goodluck Jonathan is gone with the successful inauguration of his cabinet.

He had promised Nigerians that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would be in place two weeks after his swearing-in on May 29, although this was not quite the case due to several reasons.

Among the reasons, apparently, were the complications in the selection of the ministerial nominees and the delay in their confirmation, arising from the lengthy break embarked upon by the Senate.

Many Nigerians were beginning to fret over what they thought was the long time it was taking for the government to hit the ground running, even though it was less than two months, between May 29 and July 15, for the ministers to be selected and the final batch sworn in. That is certainly a short time in the life of an administration, but the assertion is not likely to impress a people anxious, and in a hurry to have all their developmental worries resolved.

The majority of Nigerians have seen too much suffering, too much poverty in the midst of plenty; they have been disappointed for far too long by politicians who caome to them in times of elections with so much hope and expectations, only to prove incapable or turn their backs on them once they settle into their high offices. 

Here, we are again faced with a government that is promising transformation, telling everyone who cares that it is here to do things differently. This is good talk, but how are we to know that it will indeed be any different from the ones before it? Only time will tell.

However, Jonathan rode to power on the popular vote of the Nigerian people who trusted him enough to have entrusted him with the responsibility of determining the immediate future of the country. He had said, in his appreciation, that he would not let the people down and Nigerians would like to take those words, which he has repeated at several forums, very seriously.

The first step towards meeting up with that commitment should logically be seen in the type of persons selected as ministers and special advisers to facilitate his promised transformation agenda.  Looking at the manner of people, it may be safe to be hopeful that things might be done differently this time, assuming that they would get the free hand to carry out their assignments.

That there are politicians among them is, perhaps, not unexpected. But there are also technocrats and more importantly, the number of women in the new FEC nearly satisfies the 35 per cent Affirmative Action pledged by the president during his electioneering campaign.

He has also gone ahead to ensure that most of the appointees are deployed to areas where they can best be utilised for the benefit of the transformation agenda.

At least, a dozen of them are placed directly in the ministries related to their fields. Some of these include the Ministers of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Ayodeji; Communications and Technology, Omobola Johnson; Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke; Education, Professor  Ruqqayatu Rufai; Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu; Power, Professor Barth Nnaji; Science and Technology, Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa; and Works, Architect Mike Onolememen. They have the mandate to bring the much desired succour to the people of this country.

The success or failure of these ministers in their various ministries will be the criteria Nigerians will use to judge the President Jonathan-led administration. They must realise that even though four years may seem a long period, in actual fact, it is too small to correct the gross mis-management of the country wrought by the previous administrations.  Therefore, there is no time to  waste.

Citizens are eager to see improvement in power supply and other infrastructure; they want to good roads, better and affordable health care services and education. They want food and jobs in a country where security of lives and property is guaranteed.

These are realistic expectations that Jonathan had promised to satisfy. The ministers, therefore, must ensure the realisation of these and prove themselves worthy of their appointments.

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