ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo has administered the oath of office on 22 newly appointed federal permanent secretaries with a charge for them to lead the fight against corruption.
He performed the ceremony shortly before the commencement of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
Osinbajo emphasised the priority placed by the present administration on the fight against corruption as he noted that no nation could survive with the level of corruption seen in the country.
He reminded them that they were selected state by state basis on merit after a rigorous process to ensure that they waged war against corruption.
He said: “It is also important to emphasise 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 emphasise 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.
“It is your responsibilities as permanent secretaries especially these new crop of permanent secretaries chosen and selected on merit to ensure that you carry out to fullest all of the anti-corruption programmes of this government and to ensure also that in your practice and in your conduct that you are also above board.
“Let me emphasise that the process of appointment of the Permanent Secretaries is one that was conducted in the fairest possible way and I hope this is the way that it will continue by this rigorous process of examination and tests that will bring the best that this nation can offer.”
He said their selection had come at a crucial time when government was forging ahead with efforts at radical economic recovery and growth.
According to him, “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 in 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 corps led by your good selves.”
The Acting President said their role was not just to provide direction but also to train the core of civil service under their care and charge.
He added: “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 continuous 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 for a reset in some cases of projects and programmes that up till now may not have been fully implemented.”
The permanent secretaries sworn in are: Ehuria Georgina Ekeoma (Abia), 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 and Walson-Jack Diiarau Didi Esther (Bayelsa), posted to the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
Others are 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; Folayan Ayodele Olaniyi (Ekiti), Office of the Head of Service of the Federation; Abdullahi Abdulazeez Mashi (Katsina), Ministry of Communications and Adebiyi Bolaji Adekunle (Lagos), Ministry of Labour and Productivity,
The rest are Ibrahim Musa Wen (Nasarawa), Ministry of Water Resources; Odewale Samson Olajide (Ogun), Office of the Head of Service of the Federation; Â Adesola Olusade (Ondo), Ministry of Youths and Sports; Umar Mohammed Bello (Sokoto), Office of the Secretary to the Federation and Gabriel Tanimu (FCT), also posted to the Office of the Secretary to the Federation.
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