On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu emphasized that the longevity of ministers in his cabinet would be determined by their performance, subject to regular evaluations.
This statement was made by Tinubu during the opening of the 2023 Cabinet Retreat, which was attended by ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries, and top government officials, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear, if you miss the objective we review, if you don’t perform, you leave us… Don’t be a clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress,” said the president.
Tinubu emphasized that his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Usman, who is entrusted with leading the Result Delivery Unit, will closely oversee the performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across eight key areas central to his administration.
These encompass Food Security, aimed at fostering economic growth, job creation, and poverty eradication; Poverty Alleviation, with a focus on economic growth, job creation, and poverty eradication; Economic Growth and Job Creation, with an emphasis on economic expansion and poverty reduction; and Access to Capital, a critical aspect in promoting economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.
Additionally, the administration will prioritize Inclusivity by actively involving women and youth in national endeavors. Security remains a core focus, dedicated to safeguarding the nation from terrorism and criminal activities. The principles of Fairness and the Rule of Law will be upheld, ensuring impartial governance according to the constitution and the rule of law. Lastly, an unwavering Anti-Corruption Stance will be maintained, discouraging corruption while enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of anti-corruption agencies.
Tinubu also stressed that performance would be subject to assessment and that accountability would be upheld, with a performance bond-forming the basis for periodic reviews and evaluations.
“At the end of this retreat, you will sign a performance bond with me…You are here to help me succeed and succeed I must…I have appointed a dynamic young lady Hadiza Bala Usman as my SA on Policy Coordination. If you have a problem with her, come to me. If you don’t, stay where you are and work,” he told the ministers.
More so, Tinubu stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to propel the country forward and reaffirmed his confidence in the democratic process.
He declared that he had accepted the assets and liabilities of his predecessor, telling the participants that although chaos exists around them, they must be focused like one driving in a tunnel to deliver the goods.
“You don’t look at the skies or sideways, face your front and focus on your lane,” he advised.
While noting that his administration has spent the last six months “reviewing ourselves,” he stressed the importance of good healthcare and quality education, which he said is the best weapon against poverty.
The president assured foreign investors that they would be able to bring in their capital, invest, and repatriate their gains without hiccups.
He declared the country open for business while promising to remove obstacles to economic growth.
All ministers and ministers of state are seated for the three-day exercise, except the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John, who was not spotted at the meeting.
