By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday vowed that he will not hesitate to sack any of his ministers or political appointees who perform below expectations.
The President also said he must succeed by all means to deliver on the expectations of Nigeria from its current state.
Tinubu, who gave the assurance while declaring open his administration’s first Cabinet Retreat at the new Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also reminded all participants at the event that everything needed to lift the country is at the government’s disposal.
The three-day cabinet retreat with the theme: Delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda, was organised for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries, and top government functionaries.
He said he would sign a performance bond with them and the permanent secretaries, warning that any underperforming member would be sacked.
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*Sets up results delivery unit
While declaring the retreat open, he announced the setting up of a Results Delivery Unit headed by former Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, to coordinate and review the performance of the cabinet members.
The President said, “You have the 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 the 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 a 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 complaints 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.”
According to the President, “It’s our country, we have no other one, let’s be proud that we’re Nigerians and we can do it, you 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 to your supervisor. If they are wrong, debate it. I stand before you and I have claimed several occasions and I’m saying today again, as the President I can make mistakes, point it to me, and I will 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 intellects, and all that we need”, he said.
The President, who spoke for almost 20 minutes at the ceremony also said he would not complain about the heavy task of piloting the country through economic and social recovery, stating that he had accepted to inherit all the assets and liabilities of his predecessors.
“I accept the assets and liabilities of my predecessor, it is part of my professional background. You are in this ship, don’t wreck it. See the minister as part of a team that will navigate and take it out of troubled waters.
“Healthcare is a priority, education is a must. No other weapon against poverty than education. You have the opportunity to change things.”
He further tasked the functionaries, saying, “We must take 50 million out of poverty. Look around, don’t be wicked. We can only spend the money, we cannot spend the people”.
All participants at the three-day retreat will, among other things, sign the Ministerial Performance Bond, which will periodically be reviewed.
*Says he must succeed by all means necessary
Tinubu, who said they had all been appointed to help him succeed at all costs, said, “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.”
He said he has accepted the assets and liabilities of his predecessor as expected of his professional background, stressed that “no one can stand alone, you must make a positive team. I accept the assets 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,” he said.
Touching on the imperative of nationhood and determination for Nigeria to succeed, Tinubu added, “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, and 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. The success I must achieve by all means necessary. We have great minds, great intellectuals, great intellects, and all that we need.”
Tinubu gave reasons he wanted the retreat to be strictly indigenous, saying Nigerians are the only ones who can proffer solutions to their problem.
“When we were discussing this retreat, I said other than members of the diplomatic corps to give us goodwill and inspiration, don’t invite any foreigner to give me a 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, and 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, and look at the roads. We can only spend the money, we will find it, and we cannot spend the people.”
Tinubu, who said there was no crime in borrowing, however, said Nigerians must be determined to fix the country.
He said, “No crime in borrowing. Thank you World Bank for being 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, and 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 challenged the cabinet members to ask questions even if they were not the ones that generated the memo.
Tinubu said, “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 chart a path for the progress and prosperity of this nation. I’m honoured to declare this brainstorming session open.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, assured the President of cabinet members alloyed loyalty and dedication to achieve the renewed hope agenda of his administration.
He said the cabinet retreat is designed to prepare and sensitize ministers and other participants on the workings and processes of government to ensure ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) deliver for the presidential priorities of the renewed hope agenda for 2023 to 2027.
He said the retreat will also provide an opportunity to deepen the understanding of participants on best practices in conducting government business.
More specifically, the retreat, he said will 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.
He further stated that the treat will focus on discussing critical enablers for a robust management of relationships with stakeholders of government. Thirdly, it will focus on understanding the delivery framework and tracking mechanism for the federal government, and four, addressing any tasks, or expectations that the President may highlight and direct.
He listed the eight priority areas of the 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 also listed eight areas of focus of the administration which include: Reforming 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.
