Osinbajo inaugurates 15 new perm secs, says corruption halts govt policies

 Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has administered the oath of office on 15 of the 22 permanent secretaries recently appointed. Before the ceremony, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the remaining permanent secretaries would be sworn in when those representing their states retire. Those sworn in were assigned as follows: Ehuria Georgina Ekeoma (Abia), posted to the […]

 Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has administered the oath of office on 15 of the 22 permanent secretaries recently appointed.

Before the ceremony, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the remaining permanent secretaries would be sworn in when those representing their states retire.

Those sworn in were assigned as follows:

• Ehuria Georgina Ekeoma (Abia), posted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF);
• Akpan Edet Sunday (Akwa Ibom), Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment;
• Anagbogu Ifeoma Nkiruka ((Anambra), Ministry of Women Affairs;
• Walson-Jack Diiarau Didi Esther (Bayelsa), the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation;
• Gekpe George Isu (Cross River), Ministry of Information and Culture;
• Aliboh Leon Lawrence (Delta), Ministry of Budget and National Planning;
•  Uwaifo Osarenona Clement (Edo), Ministry of Health;
• Abdullahi Abdulazeez Mashi (Katsina), Ministry of Communications;
• Adebiyi Bolaji Adekunle (Lagos), Ministry of Labour and Productivity;
• Ibrahim Musa Wen (Nasarawa), Ministry of Water Resources;
• Odewale Samson Olajide (Ogun), Office of the Head of Service of the Federation;
• Adesola Olusade (Ondo), Ministry of Youths and Sports;
• Umar Mohammed Bello (Sokoto), Office of the Secretary to the Federation;
• Gabriel Tanimu (FCT), Office of the Secretary to the Federation,
• Folayan Ayodele Olaniyi (Ekiti), Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

The acting president said no nation could survive with the level of corruption witnessed in Nigeria during the past administrations.

According to him, if corruption continues, it will be impossible to implement government policies and programmes.

He said having been selected on merit, the new permanent secretaries should carry out to the fullest, all the anti-corruption programmes of the federal government as well as be above board in their conduct.

Osinbajo stated: "It is important to emphasize that this government is committed to an anti corruption programme. It is easy to speak about corruption and to speak about anti corruption programmes but we want to emphasize that we do not believe that any nation can survive at the level of corruption that we have witnessed in our country in the past years.

"It is completely impossible to implement government policies or programmes or to ensure the benefit of economic programmes or the benefits of democracy will ever reach the ordinary man if corruption continues at the level it has been in previous years. This is why our commitment to corruption is not just a glib reference, it is not just glib talk, it is important, crucial and as a matter of fact as the President has said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us..

The acting president reminded the new permanent secretaries that they were coming on board at a crucial moment in the nation’s history, urging them to key into the four executive orders recently signed.

Osinbajo said: "You are here today after a rigorous election process undertaken by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and her team of retired Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries, seasoned technocrats and members of the organised private sector. In other words your appointment on a state by state basis is on merit and you are here today to be presented to this nation as the best that our civil service can offer. You come into office at a crucial moment also in our national history.

 

"First we are the course of a radical economy recovery and growth effort that has as its core the implementation of a comprehensive diversification of the Nigerian economy. We are also implementing a major reform of public finance system, emphasizing integrity and fiscal prudence. These reforms are being effected in the context of our determined anti-corruption programme and this effort cannot succeed without a competent and committed civil service corp led by your good selves. As part of that reform effort, four executive orders have been signed.

"Executive 001 is on promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment to ensure that public servants offers prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner and sanction undue delays. Executive order 002 is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory or non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by the Federal Government. The deadline for this was on or before the end of July. Executive Orders 003 is on the support for local content in public procurement, the Ministries, Department and Agencies of government to promote patronage for made in Nigeria goods and services. Executive Order 004 is on the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme to provide an opportunity for tax payers who are in default under all relevant status to voluntarily declare their assets and Income and pay taxes on them while getting some benefits such as waivers of interests and penalties.

"These executive orders and several other directives of the Federal Government are meant to ensure that the reform programmes of the Federal Government succeeds. Your role in it cannot be over emphasized. Your role is not just to provide direction and leadership but also in the training of the core of the Civil Service and that is under your care and charge. We expect that Permanent Secretaries will be the drivers of the implementation of the Executive Orders and this is why training programme has been undertaken in order to do so and it is a continuos programme of training.

"Your coming into office at this time is a good signal and I believe very strongly that it will be an opportunity to for a reset in some cases of projects and programmes that up till now may not have been fully implemented."