Article 113 (3) generally spells out the responsibility of a Cabinet Minister while Article 114 (4) does the same for other Ministers, in our case the Ministers of State.
Notwithstanding what the Constitution spells out generally, the functions of a Minister include:
- Determining policy and exercising relevant statutory powers and functions within the ambit of his or her portfolio.
- Giving policy and political guidance to his or her Ministry.
- Protecting the interests of the President and of the Nation in the Ministry but responsible to Parliament in ensuring that the Ministry carries out its functions properly.
- Defending budget in Parliament and answering questions raised about his or her Ministry or Department by Members of Parliament or the Public.
- Carrying out any other functions of Government as the President may from time to time assign to him or her.
- Ministers are politically accountable for the autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions falling under their Ministries.