President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, while swearing in the 18 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Abuja,
gave a stern warning to the Permanent Secretaries and the entire civil service that his administration would not tolerate corruption, incompetence and excesses.
He said: “I must, however, sound a note of warning. It is within public domain that ministers as chief executives of their ministries as well as other government officials involved in policy formulation and
implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the civil service.
“Even where Permanent Secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and
liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction.
“This administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence, and
corrupt practices in any form. Permanent Secretaries are, therefore, advised to note these words of caution and disseminate them to all civil servants accordingly.
“I am sure the Permanent Secretaries and all other civil servants appreciate the fact that I
have always considered the civil service as an indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty. I, therefore, consider the service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this country for the better.”
The president tasked the Permanent Secretaries on financial prudence. He reminded them that the expectations of Nigerians from the government were high, restating his resolve to create jobs and diversify the economy.”
