ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that the portfolios he assigned to the respective ministers were round pegs in round holes, to avoid non-performance.
The president, who has since taken charge of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as substantive Minister, described the event as a milestone and that since his inauguration on May 29, 2015, he had been optimistic of bringing high quality persons into his cabinet.
“We are optimistic that bringing these set of ministers into the service of our country today, is a step in the right direction and timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.
Since we assumed office in May, I had been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translate into a round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders of our country.
I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capability,” he noted.
The president assured the nation that his government would continue to implement its policies decisively and expressed his determination to diversify the economy, to make the agriculture and solid mineral sectors major revenue earners.
“The primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of those items as well as solid minerals”, he stressed.
He further announced that his administration would pursue policies that would generate employment, improve security, tackle corruption and rout Boko Haram insurgency and other social vices.
The president asserted that his administration has made progress in its short period so far, and that it should be taken as indication that more could be achieved through common resolve and patriotism by all.
He explained that the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has conserved foreign exchange and made money available for governance and that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was implementing specific policies to strengthen the naira and preserve foreign reserves.
According to President Buhari, the present administration is poised to sustain economic growth through transparent governance, which has led to a reduction of “cynicism” about government. After the inauguration, the Federal Executive Council held its inaugural meeting.
