Our readers would recall that the editorial commentary of our past two editions were focused on the developments unfolding at the cabinet as Gambia’s president Yahya Jammeh continues to fill vacancies in his new cabinet.

On Monday, we’d discussed that it is unfair for president Jammeh to hold his former cabinet ministers in suspense. On Wednesday, we expounded on the deleterious consequences of having a ministry without a minister. Or better still, a political leader to direct the non-political workers, otherwise called careerists. The consequences, as we pointed out include inaction at the ministries, confusion among non-political workers and lack of accountability of a ministry to the parliament.

Today’s editorial commentary calls on president Jammeh to, during this fourth five-year mandate, assign all ministerial portfolios to qualified Gambians and focus squarely on the presidency.  

Throughout the third-five year mandate and even the previous ones – first and second - there probably was not a time when the office of the president was not overseeing at least three ministries.

Now that Jammeh had a rare opportunity to dissolve his entire cabinet and to form a new government, which he is doing, it is wise for him to take advantage of it, and assign all the ministries under his purview prior to the dissolving of the cabinet.

We are worried that one week after the cabinet was dissolved, and after eleven cabinet appointments have been made, there is no sign that president Jammeh will hand over those ministries, which include Agriculture; Works, Construction and Infrastructural Development; Energy; and Defence.

True, a president should always be on top of issues, especially those affecting his or her people. This however does not say that a president should be directly involved in everything. Matter-of-fact, that is why ministries and other public institutions exist. The practice is that ministers regularly brief the president about issues related to their ministries, so that a president misses no significant national development.

The job of a president is mammoth and demanding. It demands that the holder be focused. Having more than one ministries under the direct purview of a president will undoubtedly promote inefficiency as it creates undue bureaucracy when, for instance, should a permanent secretary his directives directly from the president.

Needless to say that apart from his presidencial functions, our head of state is into many things at the same time, thereby potentially compromising important national issues. He is as well, a farmer, a businessman, a father, a husband and a traditional healer.

Besides, in a country where job is scarce, one would not be forgiven for occupying four positions when four other persons could take pride in serving their country and meeting the demands of their dependents.
The leadership should allow public officials to work at their own reasonable pace. President Jammeh should accommodate those that differ in judgement with him. If the firings were few and far in between, one can accept that the fired could be at fault. But since it is rampant, the firer should look inward.

All Gambians are patriotic, honest, and trustworthy, though none is perfect. What they want from the government is job security. This is the responsibility of the leadership. It is very unfortunate to recount here-in that most of those that were sacked here, are performing extra ordinarily abroad. The alarming number of Gambian professionals working abroad tells us that its not just about the greener pasture. The work environment matters.