President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday warned the the newly sworn-in members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) against internal rivalry.
The president, who gave the warning at the inauguration of the council at the State House in Abuja, said he would not tolerate altercations between ministers and ministers of state on one hand, and between ministers and permanent secretaries on the other hand.
“I must emphasize the importance of communication and harmony within our government. You must therefore work in harmony with your fellow Ministers; communication vertical and horizontal can only be ignored at a price,” he said.
The president also warned the ministers not to allow political or ethnic difference to affect their performance.
“We can only make meaningful progress in our restoration effort, if we all commit ourselves to addressing the challenges confronting our nation in the best interest of our people and posterity.
“We must not allow such issues as political affiliation, sectional interest, and primordial loyalties to blind us against our patriotic obligation to drive our nation’s growth, development, and prosperity in an atmosphere of enduring peace, security and stability,” he said.
The president said as heads of their respective ministries, the ministers are required to work closely with the Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of Agencies under their purview for effective implementation of their mandates.
He said this was necessary because the task of moving the country to the Next Level requires dedication, focused, and collective efforts.
“I must emphasize the importance of communication and harmony within our government. You must work in harmony with your fellow Ministers. Communication – vertical and horizontal can only be ignored at a price,’’ he said.
He performance of the ministers in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would be monitored to guarantee efficiency.
“As you are aware, the Federal Executive Council meeting is held on a weekly basis. As part of efforts towards ensuring effective delivery on our priorities, I have directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to track the progress against what we have committed to do to achieve these objectives. He is therefore expected to report the process of implementation and outcome to the Federal Executive Council,” he said.
The president also disclosed that the present administration’s primary business in the next four years is to work towards delivering the dividend of democracy to all citizens irrespective of their socio-political affiliations.
He said the All Progressives Congress-led federal government was determined to record more successes that would meet the yearnings and expectations of Nigerians.
“Our primary business over the next four years is to work together, towards delivering the results that the people of Nigeria expect from us.
“We have a great opportunity as an administration to build on the progress already made in order to build and fundamentally shift Nigeria’s trajectory on the path of steady growth and development,” he said.
He said the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan introduced by the federal government would be sustained in order to engender growth and promote the value chain of infrastructural development.
“Our economic policy, which is the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, is still robust and on course with the necessary policies and initiatives to sustain the country’s exit from recession, engender growth and promote the value chain of infrastructural development.
“We believe that we can sustain our legacies and developmental strides if they are based on sustainable policies and good governance,’’ he said.
