•••SETS UP RESULTS DELIVERY UNIT
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, vowed to sack any Minister who failed to give his best in his government.
He assured that his administration will by all means possible succeed.
The president made the vow at the opening of a three-day cabinet retreat for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries and top government functionaries.
To make sure he carried out his commitment to service delivery, the president established a unit called ‘Results Delivery Unit.
According to him, he would sign a performance bond with them and the permanent secretaries, stressing that any underperforming member would be sacked.
The President said this at a retreat with the theme: “Delivering on the
Renewed Hope Agenda” in Abuja on Wednesday.
He stated that the performance bond would be signed at the end of the retreat on Friday.
The president declared the retreat open, and announced the setting up a Results Delivery Unit, to be headed by former Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman.
He said Hadiza Bala-Usman would coordinate and review the performance of the cabinet members.
“You have opportunity to change things. Recently, we received the Chancellor of the Republic of Germany and his delegation of investors. One of their key complaints and the question is whether they can bring their capital, repatriate their dividend, or if not satisfied, take their capital away.
“The Minister of Trade and Investment was called upon by me to explain further, that those obstacles are gone, never to come back again. We are open for business.
“And that is why we’ve established Result Delivery Unit. At the end of this retreat you’re going to sign a bond of understanding between you, the Ministers, the Permanent Secretaries and myself.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear; if you miss the objective, we’ll review; if no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk.
“I assure you you have a free hand, you must be intellectually inquisitive to ask how, why, when and why it must be immediate. You have responsibility to serve the people.
“I’ve taken a young lady, very dynamic Hadiza Bala Usman to head that Delivery Unit. If you have any complaint about her, see me. If you’re ready to work with her, stay there! Delivery, yes, we must achieve it for the sake of millions of the people.” The President said.
Tinubu told the ministers that they have all been appointed to help him to succeed at all cost.
“We can’t complain and give excuses. This is our country we have to build it, we have to renew the foundation. We have to give hope to the populace, to Nigerians in doubt whether democracy and economic growth will be the pathway to their prosperity”.
According to Tinubu he has accepted the assets and liabilities of the former President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration, as expected of his professional background, disclosing that; “no one can stand alone, you must make a positive team. I accept the asset and liabilities of my predecessor”, while he urged the Ministers to make good of the opportunity of their appointments to help the country navigate through turbulent and unclear weather.
“A great Nigeria is possible and a greater Nigeria will come under your commitment, guidance and resolute determination to give the country a direction”.
Tinubu, speaking on the imperative of nationhood and determination for Nigeria to succeed said: “We’ve spent the last six months reviewing and evaluating ourselves, we’ve come a long way but we set the agenda. Healthcare is a priority. Education of our people is a must. No other weapon against poverty than education.
“Let’s be proud that we are Nigerians. We can do it, we can show leadership, we can fight to make democracy a lasting reference for the rest of Africa. Don’t be afraid to take decisions but don’t be antagonistic of your supervisor. If they are wrong, debate it.
“As the president, I can make mistakes, point it to me I would resolve that conflict, that error, perfection is only that of God Almighty. But you are there to help me succeed. Success I must achieve by all means necessary. We have great minds, great intellectuals, great intellects and all that we need.”
“When we were discussing this retreat, I said other than members of diplomatic corps to give us goodwill and inspiration, don’t invite any foreigner to give me lecture about governance. I have been through it and I believe in Nigeria. It started from the day I was sworn in, that bold endeavour is only achieved through courage, determination and focused leadership.
“We are going through the reform painfully and we still have other challenges. Don’t be a clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress. Let us look forward. Let us be determined that corruption will go, progress will be achieved, better wages for our workers living wages.
“We will transform the economy to work for millions of our citizens we must take 50 million people out of poverty. We must build healthcare that works for all. Look around don’t be wicked. Look at the standard of education, look at the classrooms, look at the roads. We can only spend the money, we will find it, we cannot spend the people.”
According to the President, he wanted the retreat to be strictly indigenous, as Nigerians are the only ones that can proffer solutions to their problems.
The President who said there was no crime in borrowing, noted, that Nigerians must be determined to fix the country.
“No crime in borrowing. Thank you World Bank for be a lending friend. But let your achievement be home grown. The determination that Nigeria can do it is here. If it has not started six months ago, we are here to switch off the light, make you included, make all Nigerians included.
“Our path for tomorrow is charted for our children and grandchildren. Don’t be selfish about it. Poverty is not a shameful thing. It’s only unacceptable. And we have to banish it because it’s unacceptable. Let’s work on other identifiable areas.” He said.
The president urged cabinet members to challenge and ask questions even if they were not the ones that generated the memo.
“Because a memo is submitted to you doesn’t mean that is the end of that matter. Think through it. Be inquisitive. Ask how, when, why
“I’m ready to enjoy the retreat going forward. We are not retreating from progress. We are just to talk to one another and charted a path for progress and prosperity of this nation. I’m honoured to declare this brainstorming session open.” He said.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, reiterated the assurance of the cabinet members to President Tinubu’s administration to be alloyed loyalty and dedication to achieve the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of his administration.
Akume explained that the cabinet retreat was designed to prepare and sensitize ministers and other participants on workings and processes of government with a view to ensuring ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs) deliver for the presidential priorities of the renewed hope agenda for 2023 to 2027.
According to him, the retreat would also provide opportunity to deepen the understanding of participants on best practices in conducting government business.
He said more specifically, the retreat would focus on one, ensuring all members are abreast of essential government processes related to procurement, budgeting, anti corruption drive, Federal Executive Council, and the role of the ministers and permanent secretaries in managing their ministries.
Also he stressed the treat would focus on discussing critical enablers for a robust management of relationship with stakeholders of government.
He added that it would focus on understanding the delivery framework and tracking mechanism for the federal government and four, addressing any tasks, expectations that the President may highlight and direct.
He specifically mentioned eight points priority areas of Tinubu’s administration to include: “Food Security. To promote economic growth and development through job creation, food security and putting an end to poverty
“Ending Poverty. To promote economic growth and development through job creation, food security and putting an end to poverty.
“Economic Growth and Job Creation. To promote economic growth and development through job creation, and putting an end to poverty
“Access to Capital. To promote economic growth and development through job creation, food security and putting an end to poverty
“Inclusivity: Drawing on all Skills base. To prominently feature women and youth in all our activities
“Security. To defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality
“Fairness and rule of law. To be impartial and govern according to the constitution and ensure the rule of law
“Anti-Corruption Stance. To discourage corruption whilst strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of various anti-corruption agencies”. He explained.
According to him, there are eight other areas of focus of the administration which include:
“Reform the Economy to deliver Sustained Inclusive Growth; Strengthen National Security for Peace and Prosperity; Boost Agriculture to Achieve Food Security and Unlock Energy and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development. Others are: Enhance Infrastructure and Transportation as Enablers of Growth; Focus on Education, Health and Social Investment as Essential Pillars of Development; Accelerate Diversification through Industrialization, Digital Economy, Cultural and Creative Economy and Improve Governance for Effective Service Delivery.” He said.
