President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the newly inaugurated Ministers to exhibit integrity in all their conduct because Nigerians would hold both him and the Ministers accountable.
He reminded the Ministers that it is a privilege for them to serve the nation, therefore, can not afford to fail the nation.
“It is the highest honour to be chosen to serve as Ministers in the Federal Executive Council of our beloved Republic. With such high honour comes tremendous responsibility.
“All of you who have been sworn-in have been called to distinguish yourselves. It is me who knows you. I delegate this authority but the greatest number of Nigerians is highly expecting delivery and accountability and transparency.
“I expect that you will serve with integrity, dignity and deliver. I will hold you to that standard we all promised Nigerians.”
The President, therefore, enjoined the Ministers to swing into action immediately.
“Your assignment begins immediately. As your country honours you today, by this call to service you must each work to make yourself worthy in the eyes of God and our entire nation’s people.
“Your highest obligation is to retire public faith in government so that our people can once again believe that the right hands in government can show. I believe in you that the government can be a positive force for transformation and a vehicle for collective progress of this country,” he added.
The Nigerian Leader, who admonished the Ministers to work for the entire nation, not any region or State, also assured citizens that the Ministers will help actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
“Fellow Nigerians, the challenges we face today are very daunting. Yet amidst this evident challenge, we have the opportunity to implement long overdue reforms that will improve the operation of government, transform our nation’s economy and ensure peace, safety and prosperity for our people.
“These are the objectives that underpin the renewed hope agenda. And these are the objectives that inspired the selection of a lot of these distinguished ladies and gentlemen ministers. Ministers of the federal republic you are, not minister of a region or Minister of a particular state.”
The President said he carefully selected the Ministers, having in mind the Federal Character provision of the laws of the land.
“The men and women who have been sworn-in have been carefully selected by me for their track record of excellence and achievement in the public and private sector.
“They reflect the diversity of Nigeria and bring to their new role an assortment of experience and expertise to help guide the nation’s affairs and also continue to rebuild the nation and re-engineer all our finances and defects, building blocks of Nigeria today and the future,” he said.
Those sworn-in include Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State Gas in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Uju Kennedy, Minister of Women Affairs, and Tahir Maman, Minister of Education.
Others were Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of State (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, among others.
