By John Ameh
On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari told ministers-designate that Nigeria’s population explosion projection is frightening.
Buhari charged the incoming members of cabinet to chart a new course for the country’s growth and development.
The president stated this while declaring open the two-day Presidential Retreat for Ministers-designate and Federal Permanent Secretaries at the State House, Abuja.
Buhari notes that Nigeria would not wait for handouts from foreign development partners to tackle the country’s challenges.
The president revealed that the purpose of the retreat was, among others things, to familiarise the in-coming ministers with their colleagues at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) with whom they would work closely for the next four years.
He reminded the ministers-designate that they were appointed to assist and advise him on running the country efficiently.
“I congratulate all the new comers who the country has chosen above others to join the first term ministers whose performance has been outstanding.
“All of you are appointed to assist and advise the president in running the affairs of our country.
“At the end of the retreat, it is hoped that all of you will be in tune with the roles and responsibilities of positions you will occupy in government. Many national issues require unified decisions.
“It is a great privilege for you to be called upon to serve in these great offices of state and you must grasp the chance with two hands and put in your best efforts as Nigeria today needs top managers to handle our numerous challenges.
“There will be long hours and you must be prepared to live laborious days if we are to serve our people optimally,’’ he said.
“By average estimates, our population is close to 200 million today. By 2050, UN estimates put Nigeria third globally, behind only India and China with our projected population at 411 million.
“This is a frightening prospect but only if we sit idly by and expect handouts from so-called development partners. The solution to our problems lies within us,” Buhari averred.
He added that his administration’s eight years would have laid the ground for lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“This outcome will fundamentally shift Nigeria’s trajectory and place us among the world’s great nations,’’ he said.
He told them that as ministers, they would be responsible for the development and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in line with government priorities.
He said that the ministers must also ensure that agencies under their ministries are effective, efficient and accountable in the discharge of their responsibilities.
On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the two-day presidential retreat was meant to bring the ministers-designate up to speed with the policy direction of government, and contribute to the attainment of the next level goals.
“The objective of this retreat is to prepare the new Cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure, having been chosen to drive and coordinate the affairs and activities of the various socio-economic and political spheres of our nation.
“This assembly will afford participants the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their roles and responsibilities as cabinet ministers, an understanding that will help to shape and streamline efforts towards achieving the delivery of dividends of democracy,’’ he said.
