The Federal Cabinet and the ECC

The Federal Cabinet

• Article 90: the executive authority of the federation is exercised in the name of the President by the federal government, consisting of the Prime Minister and the federal ministers, which acts through the Prime Minister.
• Article 91: the Cabinet, with the Prime Minister at its head, aids and advises the President.
• The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the National Assembly.
• The 18th Amendment limited the size of the cabinet to 11% of the total membership of Parliament.
• Ministers of state, advisers (up to five) and special assistants also assist the Prime Minister.

Functions of the Cabinet

• Approves national policies and strategies.
• Approves draft legislation before it goes to Parliament.
• Approves major appointments and international agreements.
• Decides inter-ministerial disputes.
• Approves the budget proposals before presentation to Parliament.

Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)

• A committee of the Cabinet chaired by the Finance Minister.
• Decides economic matters such as commodity imports and exports, support prices, subsidies, fuel prices, borrowing and sovereign guarantees.
• Its decisions are ratified by the Federal Cabinet.
• It meets frequently, often weekly, and is the main forum for day-to-day economic management.

Other cabinet committees

• Cabinet Committee on Privatisation.
• Cabinet Committee on Energy.
• Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases.
• Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions.
• National Security Committee.

Issues

• Large cabinets including advisers and special assistants.
• Decisions taken by circulation (summaries circulated without meeting) without full discussion.
• Weak follow-up of decisions.

Conclusion

Collective decision-making through the Cabinet and its committees ensures that policies are discussed and coordinated. The Supreme Court's emphasis on the Cabinet's collective role strengthens this principle.