By Favour Nnabugwu
ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said the focus of his administration’s economic policy was to elevate the ordinary man through empowerment and poverty alleviation. He said this in Ibadan at the University of Ibadan’s 67th Foundation Day and award of doctorate (Ph-D) degrees.

Buhari, who was represented by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice-President, however, said the nation needed creativity and thinking to forestall the imminent collapse of her economy.

FLAG-OFF: From left: President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State; the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele and Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh during the official flag-off of dry season rice and wheat farming in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, yesterday.

He said: “In Nigeria, we are confronted with the GDP growth. This time calls for uncommon creativity and thinking on how to forestall the imminent collapse of our economy.

“We need to think of how to unravel the morbid ideology of terrorists. How to turn around our economy into that which the people desired.  We need to think of how poverty could be reduced and the unemployed in the country empowered.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, set up a 16-man committee to rationalize Ministries, Departments  Agencies, MDAs, in line with the government decision to reduce cost of governance. Also, yesterday, the government said it would soon roll out programmes, policies and slogans on the “Change Agenda.”

The President said in spite of the fall in the price of oil, the nation still had the hope of a greater future and called on Nigerians to embrace discipline, faithfulness, honesty and strong commitment to the nation’s development for the realisation of that hope.

Need for attitudinal change

The President also stressed the need for attitudinal change in the country, saying that it was a major factor hindering the country’s growth and development.

He said that the country was full of talents, creative minds and great leaders but that its shortcoming could be attributed to the character of some Nigerians.

He said: “The future of a nation lies on three major poles, namely creativity, technology and character. It is great to note that the most crucial of all is character, which combines resilience, humility and commitment.”

Buhari promised that his administration would be more committed to the rule of law, public/private sector development and rapid infrastructure development, adding that the government was determined to develop agriculture and agro-allied industries, and support creative youths.

He said: “We cannot bring about the desired development without basic infrastructure. Nigerians have all it takes to succeed.”

Similarly, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State also stressed the need for the people to have attitudinal change. He appealed to the university to take the lead in the promotion of attitudinal change, productivity and sustainable development.

FG set up 16-man c’ttee to restructure MDAs

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, set up a committee to rationalize Ministries, Departments, Agencies, MDAs, in line with the government decision to reduce cost of governance. The government had cut down on the number of ministries from 31 to 25.

The Federal Government said the 16-man committee is to rid the institutions of overlapping, duplication functions and redundancy within two weeks.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Winifred Oyo-Ita, at the inauguration of the committee on the review of the structure of MDAs in Abuja, said the Federal Government was resolute to reduce the cost of governance in order to achieve desired service delivery to Nigerians.

She said: “The primary concern of the present government is the effectiveness and efficiency of its institutions for delivering public service to meet the needs of every citizen. During the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday, November 11, 2015, Mr. President announced a restructuring of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, reducing the number of ministries from 31 to 25. Similarly, the number of permanent secretaries was streamlined from 42 to 36.”

“There is need to establish effective structures for the ministries, including proper absorption of their existing personnel as well as ensuring that they get running without much delay.”

Oyo-Ita explained that the merger of some of the MDAs was to ensure better coordination, improved service delivery and improved implementation of sectoral programmes.

She said: “There is no doubt that functions of some ministries and their agencies are expanded, while others are required to realign their focus.

“It is a very sensitive national assignment which calls for your time and commitment. That is why we have chosen people of high integrity who would not be influenced by primordial sentiments. This is another unique opportunity for us to re-set the public service to meet the change objectives of the present Government.”

“I would like to implore you to bring your wealth of experience to bear on the assignment and work assiduously to ensure proper restructuring and merger of the affected MDAs.”

Members of the c’ttee

Other members of the committee who were selected from retired and serving public officers include: Prof Oladapo Afolabi; Alhaji Isa Bello Sali; Alhaji Bukar Goni-Aji: Chief A. O. Okafor; Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Mr. Sylvester Akinsole Arikawe; Alhaji Tukur Ingawa; Mr. A. S. Olayisade; Dr. Habiba Lawal, PS (Science & Technology); Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, PS (GSO, OSGF); Alhaji Mohammed Abbas, PS (EFO, OSGF); Mrs. Nuratu Batagarawa, PS (SPSO, OHCSF); Mr. Innocent K. Ogbonnaya, PS(CMO OHCSF); Dr. Joe Abah, Director-General, (BPSR) and Mr. Ochapa Ogenyi, Director, (OSAP, MDG) as members

Terms of reference

On the terms of reference outlined by the Head of Service, the committee is to carry out a review of each ministry’s functions and responsibilities and determine the appropriate functions to avoid overlap, duplication of functions and redundancy; to assess the current organizational structure of each ministry and recommend an improved structure for efficient and effective service delivery; to examine the nominal rolls of the MDAs and make appropriate recommendations for effective deployment of staff.

Other terms include: to identify and align all the mandates of the 25 existing MDAs in line with government priorities and Change Agenda; to examine and recommend the distribution of the existing assets and liabilities of the MDAs; to review the operational systems, designs and processes so as to retool and reposition the MDAs for efficient and effective service delivery; and to advise Government on any other matter(s) that would further facilitate achieving the key objectives for the restructuring of the MDAs.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the committee, the chairperson, Mrs Ebele Okeke, thanked the government for the confidence reposed in them and promised to complete the task within the time fame give to them.

Programmes, policies,  slogans on Change Agenda

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said his ministry would soon roll out programmes, policies and slogans on the “Change Agenda.”

The minister said this at an interactive session with newsmen , yesterday, shortly after he met with the Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria in Abuja.

Mohammed said the programme would enlighten Nigerians on the need to positively change their attitude and ensure they do the right things.

The minister said the change agenda of the present administration could only succeed if Nigerians decided to change their attitude towards the change mantra.

He said that things have changed in the last few months and that Nigerians were now imbibing the culture of change.

The minister said President Muhammedu Buhari had demonstrated the virtue of change by instructing his drivers to obey traffic rules at all times. He said the President had adhered strictly to transparency in his fight against corruption.

Mohammed said Buhari and the ministers had also imbibed the culture of keeping to time slated for any event by the organiser.