Ministerial Retreat: How Buhari’s Govt Held Self Accountable
- President Muhammadu Buhari, recently, read the riot act to ministers and other top government functionaries
- This was at a two-day performance review retreat at the instance of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha
- President Buhari participated in all the sessions of the two-day retreat with a charge to his appointees to double their efforts
FCT, Abuja - With less than two years to the end of the Buhari administration, a two-day mid-term ministerial performance review retreat for ministers, permanent secretaries and other top government functionaries was put together by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The event, which was held from Monday, October 11 to Monday, October 12 at the Conference Hall of the State House, Abuja, had as its theme: “Enhance Security, fight corruption and transform the economy.”
Source: Facebook
The event was attended by President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as well as ministers and heads of departments and agencies of government.
Setting the tone for retreat, President Buhari, in his opening remarks, stressed the readiness of the federal government to de-emphasise dependence on foreign supply of military weapons to fight security challenges facing the nation.
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To this end, he said he had already instructed the ministry of defence to create a modest military-industrial complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the country's armed forces.
According to him, the establishment of the industrial complex would address Nigeria’s over-dependence on other countries for military equipment and logistics.
The project, he explained, was being implemented under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), a military department responsible for arms manufacture.
On other steps being taken by his government to strengthen national security, Buhari said it was gratifying to note that Nigeria had received six A-29 Super Tucano propeller-driven aircraft, which are currently being used for training, surveillance and attack by the military.
He also highlighted some of his government’s achievements in the last two years by listing accomplishments in the areas of infrastructure, transportation, economy, electricity supply, the petroleum industry, among others.
He expressed delight that over the past two years, ministers have rendered reports to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on their activities related to the achievement of their ministerial mandates.
The Nigerian leader, however, reckoned that by signing the Petroleum Industry Bill, 2021, into law on Monday, August 16, his government had put in place, a legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, and for the development of host communities.
Also, there were technical presentations by Vice President Osinbajo, who gave a progress report on the economic sustainability plan implementation of the Buhari administration, while the President of Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, made a presentation on Nigeria's economic resurgence – learning from the African experience.
The resource persons spoke on various priority areas and programmes of the present administration, which were later debated upon by the participants.
President Buhari, who participated in all the technical sessions of the two-day retreat, in his closing remarks, directed the ministers and permanent secretaries to redouble their efforts and work in synergy towards total delivery of the set target to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.
Buhari noted that intensive discussions at the retreat provided an opportunity to reflect on what the administration had done and areas it needed to improve and refocus attention.
The president also directed the office of the SGF to immediately begin the process of convening quarterly coordination of meetings for each priority area, based on the collaborative results framework.
He explained that the aim of the meetings was to ascertain the status of implementation across the nine priority areas, identify bottlenecks, and proffer immediate solutions.
He further instructed the office of the SGF to immediately commence engagement with stakeholders to agree and push forward a framework for the institutionalisation of the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit.
The SGF, Mustapha, expressed optimism that through the bilateral meetings and high-level engagements organised earlier in 2021, there was reliable evidence that MDAs had a better understanding and appreciation of how their ministerial mandates contributed directly to the lives of Nigerians.
Nigeria Keying Into Electric, Gas-Powered Vehicle Manufacturing, Says Jelani Aliyu
Meanwhile, the director-general, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, has asserted that Nigeria’s automotive industry is advancing towards actualizing the manufacturing of electric and gas-powered vehicles, in keeping with the net-zero target by 2060.
Aliyu made the disclosure while addressing delegates at the ongoing COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland where close to 200 countries gathered to discuss and commit to a net-zero world.
According to the NADDC director-general, the recent assembly of electric vehicles by the Hyundai Kona EV and the assembly of AutoGas powered OMAA CNG Minibus by a division of KOJO Motors are all testimonies to the effort the country is making in that direction.
Electric Car Assembled in Nigeria Is a Fantastic Innovation, Says Osinbajo
Recall that after driving Kona, the assembled-in-Nigeria electric car in July, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, concluded that the drive was fantastic and the making of the innovative car is a showcase of what is possible in Nigeria.
Professor Osinbajo made the comment after the unveiling of the Made-in-Nigeria fair featuring the exhibition of the first electric car assembled in Nigeria, among other locally manufactured products.
Aside from touring the exhibition stands, Osinbajo drove the electric car alongside the ministers of industry, trade, and investment, Niyi Adebayo, and NADDC boss, Aliyu.
Source: Legit.ng
