The President, Muhammadu Buhari, on
Wednesday, warned that any of the seven newly inaugurated ministers “caught in
corrupt practices would face the full wrath of the law”.
This was as he urged them to eschew corruption saying public
officers must be above board.
According to a statement signed on Wednesday by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President issued the warning
at the swearing-in ceremony, which preceded the virtual Federal Executive
Council meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
The newly appointed ministers and their portfolios are:
Ikechukwu Ikoh (Minister of State, Science and Technology); Umana Umana
(Minister of Niger Delta Affairs); Udi Odum (Minister of State, Environment);
Ademola Adegoroye (Minister of State, Transport); Umar El-Yakub (Minister of
State, Works and Housing); Goodluck Opiah (Minister of State, Education) and
Nkama Ekumankama (Minister of State, Health.)
Speaking to the new cabinet members, Buhari called for
collaboration with their older colleagues and announced the reassignment of
portfolios in his cabinet, saying the new redeployment is aimed at
reinvigorating certain sectors where the government desires to accomplish
improved results.
He said, ‘‘I begin this address by welcoming on board, all
newly sworn-in members of the Federal Executive Council. I also congratulate
you because the process that you all passed through to reach this stage has
been rigorous and meticulous.
‘‘I, therefore, urge you to consider your emergence out of
millions of equally qualified Nigerians within the purview of selection from
your State, as a call to duty that imposes the obligation to serve the nation
diligently and presents to you the unique opportunity to work hard in service
to the Government and the country.
‘‘This administration has been in the saddle since 2015 and
is now on the home stretch of its second term, as the nation prepares for the
2023 general elections. All through, it has vigorously pursued the three main
electoral objectives namely: Securing the nation; Diversifying & growing
the economy as well as fighting corruption.
‘‘You must resist bad
counsel, resist temptation and be circumspect in your utterances and conduct.
You must totally eschew corruption and be above board because if caught there
will be no sacred cows.”
He further asked the newly appointed ministers to await
further communication on their appropriate Ministerial Mandates from the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
‘‘You are all coming on-board at this time with new energy,
ideas, experiences and vigour, to join the existing team so that the
implementation of policies, programs and projects associated with these
electoral objectives would be escalated and accelerated.
‘‘There is still so much to be done for our country in the
areas of infrastructure development, energy, access to finance, access to
justice, technology and innovation, trade, agriculture, education and security.
The list is inexhaustible,’’ he said.
The President also urged the new ministers to study their
sectors, take wise counsel, reach out to key stakeholders, consult and
collaborate with older cabinet colleagues and focus on driving key programs
already initiated by the regime. He charged them to “be loyal to your President
and your country.’’
At the meeting, Buhari re-assigned at least four ministers
to new portfolios.
They include: Senator Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science
and Technology (formerly Minister of State, Health); Mu’azu Sambo, Minister of
Transportation (formerly Minister of State, Works and Housing); Sharon Ikeazor,
Minister of State, Niger Delta (formerly Minister of State, Environment) and
Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development (formerly
Minister of State, Transportation).
Prior to the commencement of the FEC meeting and swearing-in
ceremony, the Council observed a minute of silence in honour of the
Secretary-General of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries,
Mohammed Barkindo, who died on Tuesday in Abuja.
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