19 December 2008
Lagos — Some of the new ministers who were assigned portfolio Wednesday, yesterday resumed work in their various ministries.
Speaking when she paid a familiarization visit to the ministry, the new Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Maduekwe, expressed her desire to make the sector the fulcrum of the country's economy in the next few months.
She said she was excited about her posting to the new ministry and based her optimism on the declining oil sector earnings.
She said with the failing oil sector and its adverse effect on the economy, she hopes to make her new place of assignment the "resuscitating sector."
The Police arm of the Ministry of Interior was yesterday handed over to the newly appointed Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame.
Speaking during the hand over ceremony, the Minister of Interior, Major-General Godwin Abbe (rtd), charged the new minister to take the matter of security seriously, as sustainable development of the country and the realisation of government policies depend on it.
Staff of the Ministry of Education abandoned their duty posts to take a glance at the new Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, who was at the ministry briefly.
Egwu, who was welcomed by the permanent Secretary and other members of staff of the ministry, promised to put in his best to actualise the objectives of the ministry.
Also in office yesterday was the Minister of Sport/ Chairman National Sports Commission, Engr. S N Ndanusa, who resumed around 5pm.
The new Minister of Health, Prof. Osatimehin, had already slated a meeting for Monday with some stakeholders, including the media.
The new Minister for Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili, yesterday resumed work and urged the media to be objective in managing information that concerns Nigeria's image to the outside world adding that no other can tell our story better than Nigerians.
"My vision is to work assiduously to shore up the good image of Nigeria through responsible communication which entails proper information management. Responsible information management does not man telleing lies. In fact, one thing we must avoid is telling lies to the public. Credibility and objectivity will be the pillars on which our activities will be built. Let us build credibility and believe in ourselves and in our ability, and the public will gladly give us their support. No government program or policy can succeed without public support", she said.
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the reconstitution of the federal cabinet. Chairmen of some opposition political parties yesterday reacted to the composition of the new federal executive council by President Umaru Yar'Adua with many of them describing the new ministers as old wine in new bottles.
Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, said, "most of them are members of the old generation. My fear is would they be able to meet the challenges of the new global challenges?"
Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Clement Ebri, said, "only time would determine what they can do. As in the music Time will tell, let us wait and see what they can do to move the country forward."
Secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Presidential Campaign, Engr. Buba Galadima, doubted what the new ministers can do to make the difference.
According to him, "Are the crops of ministers better than their colleagues that were sacked from office? The issue is not about the ministers, the issue is all about leadership with the strength of focus and character."
The Kwara State Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN), Princess Omolola Olobayo, called on President Yaradua to review the allocations of ministries.
Olobayo said that, some of the newly appointed ministers are in offices where they lack competence to ensure the full implementation of the 7- Point Agenda of the present administration..
The Secretary General, the Kwara Patriot ( TKP) Hon. Wole Oke, said that, the re-circling of some of the newly appointed ministers would not led the nation to the promised land.
Also yesterday, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) said the appointment of Professor Babatunde Oshotimehin as the new health minister is welcome by the association.
Speaking at the launch of the new Panadol for cold and Catarrh by Pfizer Pharmaceutical yesterday, the National Secretary of PSN Mr. Gbenga Olubowale said the appointment of a minister is political and anybody could be assigned to any ministry,
It would be recalled that members of PSN have been at longer head with the medical practitioners over who should head the health ministry insisting that the headship of the ministry should not be an exclusive reserves of doctors.
But Olubowale said in a political dispensation any body could be assigned to head any ministry, "that is the reason why Professor Dora Akunyili, a pharmacist could be assigned to head the information ministry, he noted.
The National Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, Comrade Moshood Erubami described the new cabinet as a product of an ailing president, pointing out that the cabinet as composed consisted of round pegs in square holes.
He faulted the ministries assigned to some of the ministers which he said was at variance with their various professional background.
In his reaction, Senator Saidu Dansadau commended President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for retaining Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma as Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources.
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