“We need a dynamic bureaucracy which will not mislead us into taking wrong decisions,” the President said at a meeting with members of the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries in his office at the Aso Presidential Villa.
President Buhari is happy that the Council had pledged to support his government for the successful implementation of it’s Change Agenda, especially in the priority areas of improving security, curbing corruption and revitalizing the national economy.
“I am glad you have rightly identified the key issues we campaigned on.”
President Buhari told the elder statesmen that he is not yet convinced why he should devalue the nation’s currency, adding that he is not sure that the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians will derive any tangible benefit from such exercise.
“When I was military Head of State, the IMF and the World Bank wanted us devalue the Naira and remove petrol subsidy but I stood my grounds for the good of Nigeria.
“The Naira remained strong against the Dollar and other foreign currencies until I was removed from office in August, 1985 and it was devalued.
“But how many factories were built and how many jobs were created by the devaluation?
“That is why I’m still asking to be convinced today on the benefits of devaluation,” President Buhari told the retired Permanent Secretaries led by Otunba Christopher Tugbobo.
This was even as Chief Philip Asiodu, the Pioneer Chairman of the Council, said that its members want the present Administration to succeed because Nigeria has already lost many opportunities for progress.
“We are non-partisan. The interest of Nigeria is paramount to us and we are anxious that you should succeed,” Chief Asiodu told the President.
The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries was established in 2004 to serve as a platform for retired permanent secretaries to offer constructive advice to government on key policy issues. [myad]
