People reluctant to attack petroleum ministry because Tinubu is minister – Falae

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Olu Falae has advised President Bola Tinubu to quit his role as Minister of Petroleum.

Falae said Tinubu’s headship of the petroleum ministry makes it difficult for people to scrutinise the ministry’s activities because they do not want to be perceived as attacking the president.

The Minister of Finance’s assertion mirrored that of former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

“I believe that there ought to be a minister for every important subject in government including petroleum. But I know that petroleum is so important to the finances of government that no president has been able to take his hands off petroleum completely; not Babangida because he had minister of petroleum, not Obasanjo because he had Buhari as petroleum minister; no president has been able to take his hands off petroleum because it is so important but conceptually it is necessary and important to have a man of integrity called the minister to manage petroleum industry on behalf of the president and Nigeria so that he can be held accountable.

“As the former Emir of Kano said, out of respect for the office of the president, people are reluctant to attack the policies in petroleum because they don’t want to be seen as attacking the president. But if it’s the minister of petroleum, then comments, suggestions and criticisms will be more robust and frequent. I think it’s good for us to have a petroleum minister. Of course, all ministers report to the president but the president does not have to be minister for petroleum. That’s my view and I share that with Alhaji Sanusi,” Falae told Vanguard.

Falae also advised the Federal Government to repair and sell the nation’s refineries to enable the private sector properly manage them.

“The government should repair and sell refineries to those who can run them. Crude oil is our national endowment and should be sold at the cost of production plus little margin.

“My belief is that Nigeria’s problem with fuel and its price will be substantially resolved when we are able to repair and recommission our refineries and sell them to those who can run them.”