Nigeria, Not ailed State, Says Jonathan …Inaugurates Exco

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, in Abuja dismissed insinuations that Nigeria was a failed State.

President Jonathan, who was speaking at the official inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), noted with delight that Nigeria was blessed with talented and hardworking people.

“Our nation has been described by certain persons as a failed state, but we are definitely not a failed state.

“We are a country of talented people who have the capacity to address whatever challenges our country may be facing now.

“Other nations have passed through their own trying moments. In no way is our experience peculiar.’’

Jonathan told the ministers that they were carefully selected to serve at a most trying and challenging period of the nation’s history.

According to him, some of the ministers are returning to their old portfolios to ensure not just continuity, but also the consolidation of projects and processes embarked upon in the administration.

He charged them to give proper account of their stewardship to the people at all times.

He noted that service to the nation was a patriotic duty that every citizen must look up to, and support, saying: “There is no greater responsibility than service to the nation.’’

He challenged the ministers to be the change agents that Nigerians craved.

He said: “We are expected to stabilise power supply in the country as a minimum pre-condition for strengthening national productivity.

“We are expected to generate employment for our unemployed youth; we are expected to revolutionise the agricultural sector and ensure food security for the people.

“We are expected to sanitise the oil and gas sector; the people also want good roads, a more qualitative public school system as well as more efficient public health and transportation systems, and so on.

“These expectations cut across all sectors. Most importantly, we are expected to protect life and property and guarantee the welfare and happiness of all Nigerians.’’

President Jonathan warned that his administration could not afford to disappoint the people.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that his administration would conduct a comprehensive audit of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) of Federal Government beginning from June 2007 to date.

Jonathan stated this in his remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of the last set of nine ministers and the inauguration of his cabinet at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President said the decision was in line with his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption and his resolve to remove the country from the embarrassing rating in the global corruption index.

“Corruption is therefore the monster that we need to confront and defeat, in order to raise the country’s integrity profile. The war against corruption in this dispensation will start at the centre.

“The anti-corruption agencies have been directed to beam their searchlights on the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government, and also focus on the states and local government areas, in order to send out a clear signal, that no form of abuse will be tolerated,’’ he said.

He asked members of the cabinet not to see their position as a reward for status, but as an opportunity to serve the people of Nigeria and to be an agent of transformation agenda of his administration.

Jonathan also told the ministers not to compromise their integrity but ensure that the ministry they head serves the interest of public good and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.

While promising the ministers that everything would be done to provide the enabling environment for them to function, the President reminded them that the tasks ahead would be arduous and tasking.

Jonathan restated his commitment to the transformation of the country and to deliver democracy dividends to the people while asking the ministers to be committed along the line of his agenda.

“Our task is to address the issues which preoccupy Nigerians. We must act quickly while at the same time, working on sustainable responses to long-term challenges.

“This is the debt we owe the electorate who turned out in large numbers in the April 2011 elections to make a statement with their votes.

He charged the Ministers and Ministers of State to work together as a team, eschew rivalry and one-upmanship that has been a problem in the past.

He also reiterated on his campaign promise to run a transparent government and ensure significant improvement in the economy.

The nine ministers who were sworn in include, Dr Mohammed Ali Pate (Bauchi), Chief Edwin Duke (Cross River), Mrs. Omobola Johnson (Ondo), Hajia Adiza Mailafia (Kaduna) and Dr Nurudeen Mohammed (Jigawa).

Also sworn in are Mrs Sarah Ochepe (Plateau), Ms Amma Pepple (Rivers), Mr Ezeilo Nweke (Rivers) and Dr Akinwumi Adeshina (Ogun). The ministers have yet to be assigned portfolios.

Our correspondent recalls that Jonathan had on July 2, sworn in the first group consisting of 14 ministers while the second set consisting of 17 ministers were sworn in on July 8.