Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has called on newly appointed ministers to prioritize national interest over personal and sectional interests.
Akume made this appeal during the opening of a two-day induction retreat organized by his office in Abuja on Thursday.
Addressing the ministers, Akume emphasised their responsibility to advance Chief Bola Tinubu’s “renewed hope” agenda, which focuses on development, stability, and growth. He urged the ministers to foster national cohesion and promote unity for Nigeria’s progress.
Akume stated, “As ministers in your respective ministries, the president has entrusted you with the mandate of driving the administration’s renewed hope agenda for development, stability, and growth in your sector. This induction retreat is designed to equip you with the insights, tools, and guidance necessary for effective performance in your new roles. You are therefore expected to shun personal, ethnic and sectional interests and uphold our national interests. As ministers, your duties include upholding national cohesion and to promote peace for national unity and development.’’
“The primary purpose of this retreat is to foster a deep understanding of the operational principles, challenges, and expectations that define your responsibilities as ministers. In addition, you will gain insight into the President’s vision for Nigeria and the role each of you will play in achieving that vision “, he added.
The retreat’s theme, “Delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” reflects Tinubu’s aims to reduce poverty, enhance security, diversify the economy, and improve infrastructure. Akume stressed the need for ministers to work as a unified team to achieve these goals.
Special Adviser to Tinubu on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, said the retreat was designed as an intensive programme, structured to provide the ministers with critical knowledge.
She said the exercise would equip them with the foundational understanding necessary to assume their duties effectively.
“This retreat is an opportunity for honourable ministers to gain not only theoretical insights but also practical strategies that you can apply immediately. By the end of the two days, each of the ministers should be well-equipped to understand your ministerial roles and align with the goals of Tinubu’s administration. It will also enable you to navigate the regulatory frameworks around finance and procurement processes confidently, promote a culture of integrity within your ministry by upholding the highest standards of ethics and accountability,” she stated.
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In addition, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Nentawe Yilwada, committed to addressing poverty challenges and reducing the number of out-of-school children. He pledged to work closely with the Ministry of Education to support vulnerable families and empower parents financially.
“My ministry will collaborate with education to ensure that we reduce, to some extent, the number of out-of-school children within a shortest possible time. We have to empower not only the kids but also their parents so that parents would also be financially capable to meet the needs of their kids,” he said.
The former SGF, Boss Mustapha, also shared his experience with the ministers, reminding them of their roles as policy advisers to Tinubu for the benefit of Nigerians. #Akume
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