- Cautions against corrupt practices
BY EDMOND ODOK – President Muhammadu Buhari says more work still needs to be done in diverse areas of the economy and national life with his administration now on the home-stretch of its second term.
Also, despite mounting public criticisms and allegation of a derailed anti-graft fight, the President has warned all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) against corrupt practices, insisting that public officers must be above board as those caught in corrupt acts would face the full wrath of the law.
The President spoke on Wednesday while assigning portfolios to seven newly appointed ministers and urging them to serve the nation diligently while maintaining unalloyed loyalty to the country and his office.
Swearing-in the new Ministers to precede the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Buhari also announced the reassignment of portfolios for some Council members, noting that the reassignment aims at reinvigorating certain sectors where the government desires to accomplish improved results.
Among the new 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; and Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of State, Transport.
Others include Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, Minister of State, Works and Housing; Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State, Education and Nkama Ekumankama, Minister of State, Health.
The following ministers were re-assigned: Senator Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science and Technology (formerly Minister of State, Health); Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Minister of Transportation (formerly Minister of State, Works and Housing); Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Niger Delta (formerly Minister of State, Environment) and Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development (formerly Minister of State, Transportation).
The President tasked the fresh FEC members to consult and collaborate with older colleagues to focus on driving key programmes already initiated by this administration, cautioning everyone against corrupt practices.
He challenged them as public officers to always live above board as those caught in corrupt practices would face the full wrath of the law.
In a statement, Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, quoted Mr Buhari as saying; “I congratulate you because the process that you all passed through to reach this stage has been rigorous and meticulous.
‘‘The appointment of these new Ministers is in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which prescribes that the Federal Executive Council shall be made up of members from every state of the Federation.
‘‘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 which 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.
‘‘At the valedictory session for six former Ministers that departed to pursue other political careers, I promised that their replacement shall be a matter of priority so that the business of governance would not experience delays or setbacks.
‘‘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.”
