Some newly-inaugurated ministers have raised the hopes of Nigerians, stating their commitment to deliver in their respective offices.
The PUNCH reports that they disclosed this at their respective ministries after the inauguration ceremony that was held at the Conference Hall in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
The ministers headed to their respective ministries, where they were received by their Permanent Secretaries, officials, among others.
Shun protocol breaching, indiscipline
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said he is open to suggestions and criticisms.
He also warned staff of the ministry that he would not condone any form of indiscipline, breach of protocol, or deliberate delay of files.
Fagbemi spoke when he assumed office on Monday.
He said, “I don’t expect a director to come to me straight without passing through the appropriate channel, just as I will not encourage a junior officer to bypass protocols.
“If you are not satisfied with what your immediate senior does, you always have layers and address mechanisms.
“I also want to plead that we should not deliberately delay files. When we do things the way they are not supposed to be done, we open our flanks for attacks.”
Education change drive
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, have solicited the support of Nigerians to bring about the “desired change in the education sector.”
Mamman said, “If the education sector is fixed, everything else would work perfectly in the country since the ministry is the foundation of all.”
Earlier, Sununu sought the cooperation and understanding of Nigerians, especially the Ministry staff, to improve the standard of education.
Marine sector will thrive
In his remarks, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed his strong determination to boost the economy through various initiatives focusing on the marine sector.
The former Osun State governor called for enhanced inter-agency cooperation and coordination between important bodies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority.
“Experts say the blue economy is estimated to be worth more than $1.5tn per year globally. Therefore, given our size as a country and considering the size of our blue economy, we should be a significant player in this sector, so as to contribute immensely to the revenue generation of our country and also provide jobs for the unemployed,” he said.
Understanding the untapped potential of inland rivers, lakes, and waterways, the minister proposed a holistic dredging campaign to make them navigable for efficient cargo shipment and passenger transportation.
“As someone with a strong private sector background, we shall promote greater private sector inclusion while fostering greater efficiency through specialisation and the effective delineation of core duties between the units,” he added.
He added, “We must seize this opportunity to create positive change, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. I appreciate your dedication, and I look forward to working alongside each of you in the pursuit of a better Nigeria.”
Reverse medical tourism, others
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, promised to reverse the trend of medical tourism, prioritise health security, and improve health outcomes in the country.
The minister called for better synergy between the federal, state, and local governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
“When you fly from Addis Ababa to India, you see a lot of people going for medical tourism, and it is not something we should see as normal. We should do something about it and improve our health outcomes.
“Health security, coming out of the pandemic, is clear. Everybody thought health was a marginal sector, but COVID-19 answered that because it brought everybody to their knees economically. And so, taking public health and health security very seriously is something that all governments do, and the President is keenly aware of that.
“It is important that we deal with the issues of governance to improve the governance of health. The federal, state, and local governments and other actors will work together on health policy and implementation.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, said he will work with Prof. Pate to ensure that Nigerians begin to appreciate healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
“We will start thinking about healthcare as a human rights issue. Lack of basic healthcare for any Nigerian from now on will be considered a violation of Nigerian human rights,” he said.
Green environment
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Ishaq Salako, has promised positive changes to the country’s environment sector and research-based reforms.
Salako said the ministry would take the lead in ensuring environmental sustainability and a greener environment for Nigeria’s future generations.
He said, “Our responsibility as the Ministry of Environment is to ensure that we demonstrate that Nigeria is a giant. The environment is a gift from God, and if we do not use the environment well, God will not be happy with us. So, we will ensure that the environment is kept in a sustainable manner, and those who are coming behind can have something to meet.
“As a public health physician, I know the importance of the environment. I have some knowledge of the environment, and I believe that we will work together to deliver on the mandate of the President in the environment sector. The President is very committed and very determined, and he is looking for the legacy he is going to leave behind so that we can remember him for good.”
Regional, global peace
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said that in due time, his administration would unveil new visions to rightly place Nigeria at the regional and global peace-making pinnacle.
He noted that the new visions will help address the complex problems confronting the ministry.
Tuggar stated, “These are turbulent times. From the unfolding political crisis in the Niger Republic to the regional insecurity and economic uncertainty, we have a lot of work to do.
“In due time, we will also be unveiling a new vision for Nigeria’s foreign policy. The four Ds of diplomacy are centred on development, democracy, demography, and diaspora. We hope to find modern solutions in order to address complex modern problems.”
The Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, was ushered into his office by the acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Carol Adepoju Wura-Ola; Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abubakar Audi, among other officials of the ministry.
After entering his office, journalists were told to leave the venue.
A senior official of the ministry said the meeting was a family affair, adding that only the minister’s guests should be allowed in.
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