TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will hold permanent secretaries responsible for failure to provide the required leadership and direction in their respective ministries or establishments.

The president gave the warning in Abuja on Thursday during swearing in of new permanent secretaries.

Advising the government officials to guard against “intolerable levels of incompetence or suspected sabotage” Buhari promised to create an enabling environment for them to work.

“It is my hope that your subsequent conduct and performance will not prove this administration wrong,” 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.”

According to him, if Nigeria has to realise its full potentials for greatness, its civil service must first understand and accept the “change mantra” of the administration, and then lead its spread through all the institutions of governance and the economy.

“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

“I have great faith in the ability and quality of the Nigerian civil service to provide stability and the desired change.

“This administration and the civil service can thus develop a constructive partnership in charting a course for the change that Nigerians are looking forward to.”

Sixteen out of the 18 newly appointed permanent secretaries were sworn in by the president at the event.