The two new ministers, Prof. Stephen Ocheni and Alhaji Hassan Suleiman listening to Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has made it known to the two new ministers he sworn-in today, Wednesday, that their new jobs are not for celebration because of the seriousness attached to them.
He said to them: “from this moment they will join the federal executive council and will sit in our meeting this morning. So Prof. and Alhaji, you will not have time to celebrate much this morning. You will have full meeting today.”
Professor Osinbajo, who spoke shortly after Professor Stephen Ocheni, from Kogi State and Alhaji Hassan Suleiman, from Gombe State, stressed that federal executive council is one that is committed to the very far reaching and reform Programme of the Muhammadu Buhari government, which is contained in its Economic Recovery and Road Plan.
“We have focused our attention on key areas of that economic recovery plan and we believe those key areas are things that need to be done to make a difference in the Nigerian economy and in the lives of Nigerians.
“Time and time again, we have continued to emphasis the need for ministers to pay particular attention to all the areas that we have highlighted in the economic plan.”
He said that President Buhari had since tasked ministers with specific functions and that it is expected that the new ministers would be part of the Herculean task of turning around the Nigerian economy and making live better for the citizens.
“Of course, you know that aside from the economy, we have two key areas highlighted by the president during the course of the campaigns and have become center pieces of our administration Programme – security and the anti-corruption fight.
“We expect that members of the federal executive council will focus on these key areas as well. We have of course, made tremendous progress in security; we have issues and challenges here and there but these, compared to where we are coming from, are very minor indeed and we are tackling them on a day by day basis.
“On the anti corruption fight, we are focused; we believe that the primary thing is for those of us who have the privilege of serving to ensure that by our own point and actions we support the anti corruption fight and also that our conducts will be exemplary so that we will show by practice not just by words that we are determined to ensure that this country is run by a good government. And where there is honesty and integrity service will be delivered.”
Acting President is sure that going by their antecedents as contained in their bio datas, they deserved the positions as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He is also sure that they are capable of rendering all the tasks that would be given to them, adding: “the only reward is more hard work and I wish you the best as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Acting President said that the portfolio of the ministers will be announced shortly.
Late James Ocholi, whom Professor Ocheni replaced, was minister of State for Labour and Employment while Hajiya Amina J. Mohammed, who was replaced by Alhaji Hassan Suleiman, was minister of Environment before he was picked to serve as Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations in New York. [myad]
