Posted by By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday cleared any doubt about his quitting office in 2007 when he told members of his cabinet to put in their best in their assignments as the administration's disengagement in 2007 is real.
President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday cleared any doubt about his quitting office in 2007 when he told members of his cabinet to put in their best in their assignments as the administration's disengagement in 2007 is real.
In a keynote address at the presidential retreat for ministers and permanent secretaries in Abuja, President Obasanjo stated as a matter of finality that his government has barely one and a half years to go.
He stressed the need for ministers and permanent secretaries to respect each other's roles in their respective ministries, warning that he would not tolerate any petty bickering and mutual sabotage in this "last lap" of his race.
"With barely over a year and a half in the life of this administration and with the major task of consolidating on our achievements and addressing those areas that still demand for more concerted action, it is vital that we all understand the basic nature of the tasks ahead of us", he stated.
He advised the ministers and their permanent secretaries to develop reading culture and seek new knowledge and innovative way of carrying out their assignments, saying none of them would be excused for doing anything wrongly.
The president warned that he would not spare any permanent secretary that fails regular assessment and scrutiny, fails to inspire subordinates or put his competence and experience to proper use.
"There is no fail-safe blueprint for perfect harmony, but a healthy respect for the political leadership which our ministers provide, as well as the accumulated experiences and competencies which permanent secretaries deploy as chief advisers, should lay a solid foundation for harmony. Let me emphasise that the task before us is so important that this government will have no room for petty bickering, sabotage, laziness, selfishness, distractions, and other diversionary and escapist conduct", he stated.
President Obasanjo rationalized the decision to rightsize the civil service, saying it was meant to bring in "high flyers" into the service to energize it and motivate those who would be found good enough to remain.
"In this context, let me state that I have directed that permanent secretaries must be subjected to constant assessment and scrutiny, so that those among them who cannot lead by inspiring other civil servants with their competence, commitment and other leadership qualities are not allowed to determine the fate of the civil service and their subordinates or draw back the hand of the clock.
"Let no permanent secretary think that this is just one more statement that will not be followed through. It is best to work towards meeting the new established standards and expectations than sitting idly and waiting for government to change so that we can return to business as usual. This is not going to happen again in the new Nigeria that we are building", he further pointed out.
He said the retreat was designed to essentially get the ministers who are political appointees and the permanent secretaries who are core civil servants to work harmoniously towards providing effective leadership in the ministries.
"We have so much to accomplish as a government and avoidable frictions over roles and perceptions will only dissipate our energies and divert our attentions from serving the Nigerian people with commitment and purpose.
"The best ministers are those who understand the rule-based system of the public service almost as much as their permanent secretaries; and the best permanent secretaries are those who develop sensitive political antennae that allow them to place the best administration and advice at the service of the best political head of the ministry", he further stated.
The retreat has the former finance minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Prof. Akin Mabogunje and Chief Philip Asiodu as resource persons.