FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has sworn in one mandate secretary and four permanent secretaries for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
During the swearing-in ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, Wike, who told the Secretaries that excuses do exist in his dictionary, also asked Nigerians to be patient and that Mr. President is working hard to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had approved the appointment of Mr. Abdullahi Ango as the mandate secretary for the newly formed Youth Development Secretariat in response to the demands of FCT youth during #EndBadGovernance discussions.
He approved the appointment of FCTA permanent secretaries Okeke Joy Chinwe from the South East, Ajayi Rotimi Babatunde from the South West, and Nathan Nancy Sabanti from the North East.
It was gathered that the appointments were necessitated by the imminent retirement from the service of two permanent secretaries and the creation of the Youth Development Secretariat.
The Nigerian Tribune reported that President Tinubu also approved the formalisation of the position of Solicitor-General of the FCT Administration as Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary for the Legal Services Secretariat.
Wike said: “During our interface and discussions with the various area councils, we did communicate to them that Mr. President had agreed to establish a youth secretariat that will cater particularly to the youths.
“Let me say clearly here that Mr. President did not, on his own, nor did I, on my own, or the Minister of State, choose the appointee. All six area councils were fully involved; all stakeholders were involved and made the recommendation to us before this appointment was made, and that good intention was taken to Mr. President for his approval.
“We have always said that when Mr. President makes a promise, he keeps it. That is why we have always said we should be patient. Things may be a little difficult today, but Mr. President is working very hard to make sure that he cushions the hardship that all of us are facing.
“After appointing you as mandate secretary for youths, it’s not just to be happy. You must sit down and come up with a programme that will help the youth. What we have found out is that most people are only interested in the fact that they have been appointed. Sit down and work well through things that will help the youth of Abuja. That is key.
“You are the Pioneer Mandate Secretary; you must use it to say that while I was there as Pioneer Mandate Secretary, this was my programme for the interest of the youths.
“Mr. President has fulfilled his promise; it is for you now to work with us, to work with me, and say that these are the programmes we think will help the youths and also help them reduce the effects of hardship that they are facing. If anything happens otherwise, you would be held responsible.
“For the Permanent Secretaries, I’m sure today you’re satisfied that you have gotten almost to the highest level of your career. The only level you might now want to be at is head of service. You should remember that before, you did not have the opportunity to be a government secretary because it was never there.
“That is why we must always appreciate and thank Mr. President for breaking this hollow, which so many people have fought against, but Mr. President stood firm and said, ‘Ours is to give hope to the hopeless and people are not stagnated in their careers’.
“I have seen four of you as you signed your vote of office, bowing and kneeling down; that is not what we want. I am not interested in you kneeling down here now. My interest is for you to be committed and work.
“If you know you do not have the capacity to work, it is better you resign now. At least you would go with the title of former permanent secretary.
“Everybody must know that you must give an account of every assignment given to you. As a permanent secretary in whatever secretariat, while I was a permanent secretary in that secretariat, how far did that secretariat perform?
“Of course anybody who knows me knows too well that I’m not here to receive any excuses. There is no excuse in my dictionary. It does not exist. What I see is performance, performance, performance.”
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