PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is at a crucial time in rummaging through the list of nominees from which he would choose 42, or so, Ministers.

They would be the men and women to lead Nigeria through the critical processes to 2020, when Nigeria wants to be among the top 20 economies in the world.

Lobbyists, influence peddlers  would turn in names with résumés that will stretch into tens of pages of justifications for a place in the cabinet.

The President must find a better way of appointing Ministers than depending on the recommendations of people, most of who just want their protégés in office.

After more than a year in office, the President should know enough people who should work with him. The composition of his team should have more consideration for individuals who will bring value to the cabinet than pleasing some Nigerians who see appointments as their chance to plug into a part of the national purse and suck it dry.

Nigerians want Ministers with better ideas that can develop the country. Agreed there are constitutional constraints under which the President should appoint at least one Minister from each State, these provisions should not be reasons for flooding the cabinet with Ministers who will not be productive, but must keep their places because of their sponsors.

Competence is not an important qualification for being a Minister.

Those who have promoted their competence as a key value that they are bringing into government are among those thrown out at the smallest infraction, usually at the instigation of those who benefit from sustaining the impression that governance is impossible. The President should make a departure from the old ways.

We are holding the President responsible for those who will work with him however he chooses them. We are also concerned about the consequences of his choices.

The priority of his government should not be to please a few, some of who have been behind the challenges the country faces, at the expense of the millions of Nigerians who voted him into office.

Nigeria is a laughing stock for its poor rating on human development indices. Time is running out if the country is to reach some of the goals that would improve the living standards of its peoples.

As a projected leading power in Africa, Nigeria has to bring itself up to a point where the government can fulfil its obligations to its peoples and set great examples about governance for other African countries. A weak cabinet cannot understand these imperatives.

The President must realise the significance of how people are appointed to the seriousness they apply to their work.

The allegiance of those who know they would be in the cabinet courtesy of other power sources will not be to the President. Some people are being trumpeted as those the President must please which means their nominees, no matter who they are, will be in the cabinet.

Jonathan is about to start a new government, one that can be called his, considering the circumstances of the past year. A critical reflection in his choice of Ministers will save him – and Nigeria – many headaches.