President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled his cabinet yesterday. He heads the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as minister. Thirty-six other ministers took the oath of office.
The portfolio of the others are Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers)—Transportation, Chris Ngige (Anambra)—Labour and Employment, Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti)—Solid Minerals, Babatunde Fashola (Lagos)—Power, Works and Housing and Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano)—Interior.
Others are: Aisha Alhassan (Taraba)—Women Affairs, Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi)—Science and Technology, Kemi Adeosun (Ogun)—Finance, Abubakar Malami (Kebbi)—Justice, Hadi Sirika (Katsina)—Minister of State for Aviation, Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa)—Water Resources, Solomon Dalong (Plateau)—Youths and Sports, Ibe Kachikwu (Delta)—State for Petroleum.
Also sworn in are Osagie Ehanire (Edo)—Minister of State for Health, Audu Ogbeh (Benue)—Agriculture, Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom)—Budget and National Planning, Lai Mohammed (Kwara)—Information, Amina Mohammed (Gombe)—Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa)—State, Environment
Others are: Anthony Onwuka (Imo), State for Education, Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa)—FCT, Adamu Adamu (Bauchi)—Education, Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia)—Industry Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Khadija Bukar Abba (Yobe), State for Foreign Affairs
Other portfolios include Claudius Daramola (Ondo)—State, Niger Delta, Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu)—Foreign Affairs, Monsur Dan-Ali (Zamfara)—Defence, James Ocholi (Kogi), State for Labour, Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), State for Budget, Mustapha Shehuri (Borno)—State for Power, Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)—State for Agric, Isaac Adewole Folorunsho (Osun)—Health, Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River)— Niger Delta, Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger)—State for Solid Minerals, Adebayo Shittu (Oyo)—Communications and Muhammadu Buhari—Petroleum.
The inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) came over five months after President Buhari took office.
Buhari urged the cabinet members to bring the desired change to Nigerians.
He said: “The ministries have been rationalised and reduced to 24. Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions.”
Despite the various challenges facing the nation, including terrorism, kidnapping and failing oil prices, he maintained that his administration had made progress in the past five months.
Stressing that he was running an “inclusive” government, Buhari said the government’s business is now conducted transparently.
According to him, the Treasury Single Account (TSA)introduced by the government is now making more money available for government business.
Of the ministers, he said round pegs are now put in round holes.
Said the President: “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.
“We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.
“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.”
He went on: “I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.
“Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.
“With the inauguration of ministers, our government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and in other areas. While working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in the price for the commodity, we are determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner.
He said that the primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals.
According to him, his administration intends to pursue policies that will generate massive employment for millions of Nigerian youths.
On security and corruption, Buhari said: “We shall also continue with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight against corruption.
“Our commitment to defeat Boko Haram and all the threats it constitutes remains as strong as ever. So is our resolve to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians.
“While recognising the challenges we face and the need to surmount them, let us not fail to note the progress we have made in the short life of this government, as an indication of how much better we can do as a people driven by patriotism and a common resolve to do things right.
“On the moral sphere, trust is slowly but steadily being re-established between the government and the people. Now, when the government speaks, the people listen; and when the people’s expectations are not met, they appreciate that it is not for lack of commitment or trying on the part of government. In effect, government business is now being conducted with transparency and cynicism is waning as a result.”
On the TSA, Buhari said: “The Treasury Single Account has resulted in the blocking of financial leakages in the public sector, making more funds available for the business of governance and ensuring the welfare of our citizens.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria has also assisted more than 30 states of the federation with concessionary loans to offset salary arrears for their workers. On the monetary side, the CBN has also implemented country-specific and innovative policies that have helped to stabilise the exchange rate and conserve our reserves.
“Over all, our economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Regardless of the present challenges we are confronting, I believe all Nigerians will keep hope alive and sustain their optimism about the future of our economic well being.”
At the ceremony were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mahmoud Mohammed.
Also at the ceremony were the National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and APC National Leader Chief Bisi Akande.
The inaugural Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was held in the Council Chamber shortly after the ceremony.
No comments:
Post a Comment