ADC's Melaye slaps govt for appointing carpenters to tailor jobs in Nigeria

ADC chieftain Dino Melaye criticized Nigerian government appointments where officials lack relevant expertise, saying 'carpenters are doing the jobs of tailors' during a KAA Truths podcast appearance. He specifically cited lawyer Babatunde Fashola serving as Minister of Power, Works and Housing despite having no engineering background, a lawyer heading NNPC, and a veterinary doctor as Health Minister.

Melaye argued such mismatches cause inefficiency and prevent solutions to critical national issues, noting officials need years to understand technicalities while civil servants undermine them and funds get wasted. He acknowledged Fashola's legal brilliance but insisted law doesn't qualify someone for power infrastructure management.

The criticism highlights persistent concerns about competence-based appointments in Nigerian governance, where political loyalty often outweighs technical qualifications. This pattern affects sectors from energy to health, potentially impacting service delivery and national development outcomes.

When evaluating government appointments or policies, do you prioritize officials' relevant technical expertise over political connections, and how should citizens assess whether leaders possess necessary qualifications for their assigned responsibilities?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/24/carpenters-doing-jobs-of-tailors-in-nigeria-dino-melaye-blows-hot/