By Egena Sunday Ode
President Bola Tinubu on Monday admonished the newly appointed ministers to remain focused even in the face of abuses and criticisms that would certainly come their ways.
He spoke at the swearing in of the recently appointed ministers who were confirmed by the Senate last week.
The new ministers who took oath of office at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja include Dr Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi – Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State Foreign Affairs.
Others are Dr Jumoke Oduwole – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha – Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Abdullahi Ata – Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad – Minister of State Education.
President Tinubu commended them ministers for accepting to serve the nation, especially as his administration is currently facing a myriad of challenges requiring all hands to be on deck to salvage the country.
The swearing ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, among other invited guests.
Tinubu told the new cabinet members that they “were called upon to join the team to rescue this country.”
The President said that his administration has also halted the activities of scavengers of the nation’s resources and is on the verge of completely doing the same to profiteers and smugglers across the country.
He acknowledged that the cost of living has gone up, but added that the prevailing situation calls for a serious commitment by all Nigerians.
President Tinubu said his administration would not run away from the challenges and responsibilities, assuring that his government is poised to addressing them headlong.
He commended the National Assembly for diligently and expeditiously living up to expectations by performing its constitutional duty of screening and confirming the ministers on record time.
While congratulating the seven new ministers, the President said: “The moment is challenging, the present situation calls for a very serious commitment. Yours is a duty to serve and that is what you’ve got to do.
I really appreciate the fact that you have taken the oath of office and ready to serve your nation at the time we are facing the challenges of economic growth and other items like security challenges and others.
“It is not easy to find just the unique people that will surrender their life, freedoms and other responsibility to serve their nation anytime in this time of challenges . I am sincerely happy that you have done that and that you are here today to be part of a very committed team of Nigerians who have been working tirelessly since 17 months ago that we assumed the responsibility of governing this country, you are called upon to join the team to rescue this country
“Service is the hallmark of this human endeavour, you are being called upon to serve. Economic recovery is on the horizon. We have a good path to realise our dreams and it is not just only for us , it is for our children and grandchildren.”
He said despite the challenges the country was facing, the administration is on the right track in the job of re-engineering and retooling the economic path of this country.
“Yes, cost of living has gone up, I recognise that and we have satisfied the obligation of paying a new minimum wage across the board,” he said.
President Tinubu said it was a challenge when the country was servicing its debt with 97 percent of its revenue, pointing out that debt servicing has been brought down to 65 percent and it has not defaulted in paying or meeting all its obligations both foreign and domestic.
The President said that the economic challenges are not peculia to Nigeria, noting that neighbouring countries and countries across the world are facing the same challenges.
He said, “In fact, there’s a lot of crime in Europe and America. What pandemic has brought to the economies of the world but we are navigating through this and we are working hard. You will be part of criticism and abuse, don’t worry stay focused, stay resilient. Your thank Will come with the history of growth and prosperity for this country.”
He further said, “It is my joy and honour to be part of you to be responsible for over 200 million people in this county. We have taken the bull by the horn. We have stopped the scavengers. We are going to stop completely the profiteers and smugglers of our resources across the country.
“We are not going to run away from our responsibility, we are going to face it and we have been facing it head on.
With you as a member of this team, I am proud and honoured that I am leading you and we will lead you to success and prosperity. All I can say is welcome on board, this ship will not sink.”
