Okoooo....President
Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday confirmed, for the first time, the plan by
his administration to reduce the number of ministries in the country.
There have
been media reports that the President’s transition committee, led by
Ahmed Joda, had recommended a drastic reduction in the number of
ministries.
That plan is said to be one of the reasons behind the delay in the formation of his cabinet.
Buhari confirmed the plan at a meeting he had with members of the Nigerian community in Benin Republic on Saturday evening.
He was responding to a request for the creation of two more Nigerian consulates in Benin Republic.
He said
despite the planned reduction, however, he would direct the Nigerian
ambassador to make the request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The
President said, “I think I will direct your ambassador to make the
request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that by the time we are
doing the next budget, it would be included.
“Although
we are trying to cut down on the number of ministries, the morale of
Nigerians in diaspora must be considered. This is because we are so
many.
“We are
aggressive, whether in business or other facets of life. So, we as a
government will do everything possible to look after Nigerians wherever
they are.”
When
members of the community requested to know what his administration is
doing to facilitate their return home, Buhari told them to remain where
they are.
He said he would not want them to come and add to the problems at home by the time they will be unemployed.
“I believe a lot of you are doing well and are better off here. So, the question of facilitating you coming home does not arise.
“We don’t want you to come back home and be unemployed. Don’t come and add to our problems.
“If you have something doing here please continue doing it.”
While
warning them to remain law-abiding, the President regretted that
Nigerians in South Africa have been engaging in activities that do not
portray the country in good light.
“I have always told the Nigerian communities to respect their hosts culture and obey their laws.
“There are a number of problems in South Africa which did not portray us in good light as Nigerians.
“Some of
them are in prison for committing a number of crimes. But for you who
are so close to home, you should do your best in being good ambassadors
of the country,” he said.
On whether
there is any cooperation between Nigeria and Benin Republic in fighting
Boko Haram, Buhari said the country had identified with the countries
of Lake Chad Commission which comprises of Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.
He said
President Boni Yayi had made an undertaken of providing a number of
troops to the joint task force troops of the Chad Basin Commission
countries to fight the Boko Haram.
“As you
know, Nigeria is expected to make a bigger contribution. By yesterday
(Friday), we were supposed to take the troops off the ground.
“So, Benin Republic, through the President, is participating in fighting Boko Haram,” he said.
On their
request for the opening of National Open University in Benin, the
President asked them to pass their request through the ambassador who
will formally write the Ministry of Education.
He said the possibility of expanding the facility to them would be considered.
Responding
to the question on how the government would help improve their
businesses, the President again referred them to their ambassador.
“If the
embassy sends a reports from your representatives, I believe the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry will examine it and whichever
suggestion they raise, the Federal Government will look at them.
“The
Federal Government here in Nigeria will ensure that people don’t just
earn their salaries but that they do exactly what they are paid for,” he
added.
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