President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged newly sworn in ministers to prioritize the interests and welfare of the entire nation and its diverse population, above any regional or state-specific sentiments.
Speaking at the State House Conference Centre during the inauguration of new members of the Federal Executive Council, President Tinubu emphasized the enormous responsibility the ministers now carry in formulating laws that will have a substantial impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President said, “You are not a minister of a particular state, colony, region, or ethnic nationality. You are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“This is all about the cohesion and work of a great team, and I believe we now have it. It is an honour to be chosen to serve as a minister in the Federal Executive Council, and such a high honour comes with tremendous responsibility. In this moment of abundant promise and peril in equal measure, all of you that have been sworn in have been called to distinguish yourselves. Nigerians are highly expectant of excellence in service delivery, accountability, and transparency,” Tinubu stated.
The President also reminded the new ministers that they can not disappoint Nigerians, who expect them to serve with integrity, dignity and competence to actualize the Renewed Hope manifesto of the administration—failing which he will not hesitate to take necessary remedial measures.
“As your country honours you today, you must each work to make yourselves worthy in the eyes of God and our entire nation’s people. Your highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that our people can once again believe that government can be a positive force for transformation and a vehicle for collective progress of all citizens of this great country,” President Tinubu said, while congratulating each of the ministers and welcoming them to “the Administration of Renewed Hope.”
Expressing his wishes for the success of the cabinet members in the discharge of their duties, President Tinubu invoked a metaphor of a journey, in which he is the driver of a vehicle, along with all Nigerians as passengers.
“In this new assignment, we are in this boat together, even if it is a vehicle, I am the driver. The entire nation sits watchful, as you and I navigate this vehicle. We must hold each other responsible. We have to do the job to meet the expectations of all Nigerians. God be with you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
