President Muhammadu Buhari has defended the portfolio assigned to the 36 ministers of the federation sworn in on Wednesday, November 11.
The President, who inaugurated the Federal Executive Council (FEC) over five months after he assumed office said all the Ministers are a perfect fit for their portfolios.
To this end, he urged the cabinet members to bring the desired change to Nigerians.
He said: “The ministries have been rationalised and reduced to 24. Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions.”
Stressing that he was running an “inclusive” government, Buhari said the government’s business is now conducted transparently.
The President said: “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.
“We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.
“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.”
He went on: “I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.
“Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.