Showing posts with label Muhammadu Buhari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muhammadu Buhari. Show all posts

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Ministerial portfolios: I ensured round pegs in round holes to avoid non-performance – Buhari


President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said he ensured round pegs were placed in round holes to avoid non-performances as regards designation of portfolio’s to the newly sworn-in 36 ministers who are to form his cabinet.
bhThe swearing-in, which was done in nine batches at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa , was witnessed by two guests of each of the appointees, some governors and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The president, who also takes charge of the Ministry of Petroleum as substantive Minister, described the event as a milestone and added that since his inauguration in May, he had been optimistic of bringing high quality persons into his cabinet.
He said the choice was deliberate to appoint square pegs in square holes to avoid the mistake of appointing those who would not perform.
“We are optimistic that bringing these set of ministers into the service of our country today, is a step in the right direction and timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.
“Since we assumed office in May, I had been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translate into a round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders of our country.
“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 capability,” he said.
The president said the government would continue to implement its policies decisively.
The president said the government was determined to diversify the economy to make the agriculture and solid mineral sectors major revenue earners.
“The primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of those items as well as solid minerals,’’ Mr. Buhari said.
He said the administration would pursue policies that would generate employment, improve security, tackle corruption and rout Boko Haram insurgency and other social vices.
The president said his administration had made progress in its short period, which should be taken as indication that more could be achieved through common resolve and patriotism by all.
He said the introduction of the Treasury Single Account had conserved foreign exchange and made money available for governance.
The president added that the Central Bank of Nigeria had implemented specific policies to strengthen the naira and preserve foreign reserves.
He said the administration was poised to sustain economic growth through transparent governance, which had led to a reduction of “cynicism” about government.
After the inauguration, the Federal Executive Council held its inaugural meeting.



Friday, 6 November 2015

Ministers-Designate Ended Retreat

President Muhammadu Buhari’s incoming ministers concluded with orders dished out to them on how to cut down cost of running their ministries, including drastic reduction in size of vehicular convoys.
The ministers-designate are also expected to ‎reduce their entourage of aides‎ and protocol officers.
Chris Ngige, a former governor of Anambra state and one of members of Buhari’s cabinet, associated the cutting down on aides to “lean economy”.

He said: “Yes, lean economy because we are going to block areas of leakages. Retinue of aides, protocol staff, and large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration.”
Ngige’s comments came at the end of a two-day retreat for the new ministers provided by the Office of the Secretary to the government of the federation.
Answering to the questions of the journalists he also noted that it was not a problem if a minister had no portfolio in the government of Buhari.
Ngige added that it is one single cabinet and all ministers have a right to discuss issues around ministries.

“No, no, no. If you have portfolio, if you don’t have portfolio, it is one single federal executive council. You bring whatever it is on the table. That is not a problem at all. We have a right to discuss things around the ministries because it is one single cabinet.
 “The important thing is that we want to move our people from where they are now, they are in abject poverty which concerns about 75 percent of the populace. So, we need to actually restructure the political and social moment of the country, and that is what we are going to do. That means poverty will reduce,” the new minister said.
The two-day ministerial retreat was held behind closed-doors and it ended with no communique issued.
Buhari had, , told the incoming ministers that his government would make running of government as lean as possible by evading waste and conserving resources.