President Muhammadu Buhari gave further indication yesterday of the policy and economic direction of his government as he engaged 31 ministers-designate in a first formal meeting and induction retreat in Abuja.
Buhari told the ministers-designate that the major thrust of his administration would be diversification from oil, upgrading physical and social infrastructure and generating employment.
The president also said great emphasis would be placed on drastically reducing the cost of governance.
It is thought that the president’s frequent visits abroad and the participation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a facilitator in the two-day retreat which kicked-off yesterday, indicate that the Buhari administration would be engaging significantly with foreign governmants for development.
“We will intervene in mining and agriculture and upgrade the country’s physical and social infrastructure, which will broaden our revenue base and significantly improve the level of employment, especially among the youth,” Buhari said prior to the kick of of the retreat.
He added, “Our economic focus will be policies that will ensure inclusive growth and we will count our achievements based on the number of Nigerians we move out of poverty”.
Buhari also signalled at efforts to establish clear and effective lines of communications with his ministers and urged them to do same among themselves. He said, “all communication and appointments from you to the Presidency should be routed through the Office of the Chief of Staff, as is normal in this Presidential System”.
Noting that the expectations of Nigerians from his administration were high, the President observed that government officials’ resolve to succeed must equal the nation’s challenges.
He told the ministers-designate that they have
no option but to be the drivers of the change that the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians.
“Our main task is to turn our manifesto promises to practice and results. Over the next two days I expect you to have a better understanding of the context in which we have taken the challenge of serving our country, as well as the strategies we have adopted to tackle them.
“I would also expect you to be even more determined to work as a team, and to live up to the high standards of probity and integrity which Nigerians expect of us” he said.
He added, “You are coming on board the ship of governance at an interesting time. So much has been said about the state of our economy. It is expected that we make the running of government at all levels as lean as possible, avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change.
The Retreat, he said, marks their first official contact with the machinery of government, of which they would soon be an integral part. “It is important that you are fully acquainted with the direction and priorities of this government so that we can all move together as a team”.
The presidential retreat which was organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has the theme, “Delivering change from precepts to practice”. It was attended by Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo, with all ministers-designate and other presidential aides, as well as other top government officials. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also participated as a facilitator.
Elizabeth Archibong
