On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that any of the seven newly inaugurated ministers “caught in corrupt practices would face the full wrath of the law”.
He said that public officials must be above board as he urged them to abstain from corruption.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the President issued the warning at the swearing-in ceremony, which took place before the Federal Executive Council meeting virtually in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
Ikechukwu Ikoh, Minister of State for Science and Technology; Umana Umana, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Udi Odum, Minister of State for the Environment; Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of State for Transportation; Umar El-Yakub, Minister of State for Works and Housing; Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State for Education; and Nkama Ekumankama, are the newly appointed ministers (Minister of State, Health.)
Speaking to the newly appointed members of his cabinet, Buhari urged cooperation with their more experienced counterparts and disclosed the reassignment of cabinet portfolios. Buhari claimed the new redeployment was intended to revitalize specific industries where the government wanted to achieve better 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 requested that the newly appointed ministers wait for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to contact them regarding their proper ministerial mandates.
‘‘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 exhorted the new ministers to research their fields, seek the advice of intelligent people, communicate with important parties, speak with more experienced cabinet members, and concentrate on advancing important initiatives already started by the government. “Be loyal to your President and your country,” he exhorted them.
Buhari reassigned at least four ministers to new responsibilities at the meeting.
They are Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mu’azu Sambo, Minister of Transportation, Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State for the Niger Delta, and Senator Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science and Technology (formerly Minister of State for Health) (formerly Minister of State, Transportation).
The Council held a minute of silence in memory of Mohammed Barkindo, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, who passed away on Tuesday in Abuja, before to the start of the FEC meeting and swearing-in ceremony.
