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cting President Yemi Osinbajo has assigned portfolios to the two ministers who were sworn in three weeks ago after being confirmed by the National Assembly in May this year.
This is even as the Acting President swore in 15 Permanent Secretaries, with an order to drive the four Executive Orders he signed in to drive the ease of doing business reforms in the country.
Stephen Ocheni was assigned to fill the vacuum created by the death of James Ocholi who hailed from the same state, Kogi State. He is to resume as minister of state in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity while Suleiman Hassan who was appointed to fill the Gombe state slot will resume as Minister of State, Power, Works and Housing. There will now be two ministers of state in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
The Acting President made the announcements after the 15 Permanent Secretaries took their oath of office before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, in Abuja.
In his charge to the newly sworn in Permanent Secretaries, Osinbajo said they had been appointed at a time when the government was carrying some reforms especially as relates public finance system, emphasizing integrity and fiscal prudence.
According to him, they had a major role to play in the implementation of the reforms which include the Executive Orders he signed recently.
“You come into office at a crucial moment also in our national history.
“First we are on the course of a radical economy recovery and growth effort that has as its core the implementation of a comprehensive diversification of the Nigerian economy. We are also implementing a major reform of public finance system, emphasizing integrity and fiscal prudence.”These reforms are being effected in the context of our determined anti-corruption programme and this effort cannot succeed without a competent and committed civil service corp led by your good selves” he said.
To boost the reforms, the Acting President recently signed three Executive Orders on the ease of doing business and another to back the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme.
Executive 1, is on promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment to ensure that public servants offers prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner and sanction undue delays.
Executive order 2, is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory or non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by the Federal Government. The deadline for this was on or before the end of July.
Executive Orders 3, is on the support for local content in public procurement, the Ministries, Department and Agencies of government to promote patronage for made in Nigeria goods and services .
Executive Order 4, is on the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, VAIDS, to provide an opportunity for tax payers who are in default under all relevant status to voluntarily declare their assets and Income and pay taxes on them while getting some benefits such as waivers of interests and penalties.
“These executive orders and several other directives of the Federal Government are meant to ensure that the reform programmes of the Federal Government succeeds. Your role in it cannot be over emphasized. Your role is not just to provide direction and leadership but also in the training of the core of the Civil Service and that is under your care and charge. We expect that Permanent Secretaries will be the drivers of the implementation of the Executive Orders and this is why training programme has been undertaken in order to do so and it is a continuos programme of training.
Your coming into office at this time is a good signal and I believe very strongly that it will be an opportunity to for a reset in some cases of projects and programmes that up till now may not have been fully implemented”.
He emphasize that the government is committed to completely implementing its anti corruption programme.
“It is completely impossible to implement Government policies or programmes or to ensure the benefit of economic programmes or the benefits of democracy will ever reach the ordinary man if corruption continues at the level it has been in previous years.
“This is why our commitment to corruption is not just a glib reference, it is not just lip talk, it is important, crucial and as a matter of fact as the President has said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us”.
He reminded them of their responsibilities as Permanent Secretaries to ensure that they carry out the implementation of the anti-corruption programmes of the government to the fullest and ensure that in their conduct is also above board in their practice.
He emphasized that the process of appointment of the Permanent Secretaries is one that was conducted in the fairest possible way and those selected were the best that the nation could offer.
The permanent secretaries are: Ehuria Georgina Ekeoma (Abia), posted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Akpan Edet Sunday (Akwa Ibom), posted to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
Anagbogu Ifeoma Nkiruka ((Anambra), posted to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Walson-Jack Diiarau Didi Esther (Bayelsa), posted to the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
Others are Gekpe George Isu (Cross River), posted to Ministry of Information and Culture, Aliboh Leon Lawrence (Delta), posted to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning
Uwaifo Osarenona Clement (Edo), posted to the Ministry of Health, Folayan Ayodele Olaniyi (Ekiti), posted to the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation,
Abdullahi Abdulazeez Mashi (Katsina), posted to Ministry of Communications , Adebiyi Bolaji Adekunle (Lagos), posted to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity,
Ibrahim Musa Wen (Nasarawa), posted to Ministry of Water Resources, Odewale Samson Olajide (Ogun), posted to the Head of Service of the Federation, Adesola Olusade (Ondo), posted to Ministry of Youths and Sports, Umar Mohammed Bello (Sokoto) posted to the Office of the Secretary to the Federation and Gabriel Tanimu (FCT), posted to the Office of the Secretary to the Federation.
