Cabinet: I avoided my predecessors’ mistakes, says Buhari

 President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said in appointing his ministers and assigning portfolios to them, he was conscious of the need not to repeat mistakes made by previous administrations where the right people were allocated wrong portfolios.

That unfortunate situation of the past, he said, translated into the former ministers performing poorly to the country’s detriment despite their capabilities.

Buhari said this shortly after administering oath of office on his 36 ministers inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said since he assumed office on May 29, he had been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes.

He said in forming his cabinet, he heeded the advice that he should consult as widely as possible.

He described the inauguration of his cabinet as another milestone in the evolution of his government which was voted into office by majority of Nigerians.

He said, “Today we have reached another milestone in the evolution of our new government which Nigerians overwhelmingly voted into office in the March 28th, 2015 general elections.

“Today we witness the swearing-in of new ministers of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.

“We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world.

“And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.”

Buhari said he was conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past
where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly “to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.

“Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.”

Buhari said with the inauguration of the ministers, his government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and in other areas.

He said while working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in the price for the commodity, his administration was determined to diversify the economy in agriculture in order to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner.

The primary aim, according to the President, was to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals.