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Why Buhari might not appoint ministers even in two months time

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Nigerians who have been waiting anxiously for President Muhammadu Buhari to unveil his list of cabinet members may need to wait a little more as there are indications that the president may not appoint ministers “in the next two months.”

This is despite criticism from various quarters that the president has been very slow in making key appointments amidst high hopes and expectations from his government.

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According  The Nation, three reasons may account for the delay in the president’s appointment of ministers.

The reported noted the three reasons to be:

  • the President’s plan to clear the “rot” inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan administration;
  • the crisis in the National Assembly over the choice of principal officers; and
  • the need to reduce ministries and parastatals.

But the reduction or merger of ministries or parastatals will, however, not lead to retrenchment of workers.

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A Presidency source, who had a confidential briefing with some journalists in Abuja, said the mess Buhari inherited was “sickening”.

The source said: “You cannot even begin to imagine the situation we have met on the ground.

”Almost everything is in a state of decay. There is absolutely no way the new government can hope to achieve anything long-lasting without first building a new foundation.”

The source said President Buhari’s plan of action could be compared to that of “a doctor who first has to break a poorly set bone afresh, before resetting it to allow for smooth and proper growth”.

On the National Assembly crisis, the source said it was “yet one more excuse why forming a cabinet will be impossible until further notice”.

He added: “Look at how they are fighting among themselves.

“The Senate has now adjourned till July 21. That means no one to scrutinize or approve any ministerial list until the end of July.”

When told that the National Assembly said it was ready to cut short its break to consider any request from the President, the source asked the reporters to await the President’s “long-awaited” intervention in the crisis between the party and the National Assembly.

”The President wants to walk his talk on stable politics and being a leader for all. He has a plan for the National Assembly.”

He said  civil servants had been “supervising the day-to-day running of ministries and that permanent secretaries of the various ministries have access to the President”.

He added: “All these reports and agitations are being fuelled by politicians who want to put pressure on the President.

“They have tried doing it other ways and those haven’t worked. Now, they are trying to use the media. They only want their cronies appointed to ministerial posts anyhow and they are fuelling the agitation through newspapers.”

He advised the media not to fall for the “old tricks and shenanigans” of politicians.

Buhari is set to reduce or merge some ministries and parastatals to make the size of the civil service manageable for efficiency.

The exercise will, however, not lead to retrenchment of workers.

The source added: “The President plans to cut down the number of ministries and parastatals.

“He wants to cut down the cost of running government. He wants to make sure that all the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive are blocked. All these are procedures that require time and careful planning. You cannot do it in a rush.

“Remember that he has to make sure that all this is done without any job losses or mass retrenchments. All this is not a day’s or one-month job.”

He added that President Buhari could not realistically have begun this process without first receiving the full report of the transition committee and ascertaining exactly the situation his government faced.

He said the president was taking his time to study the Ahmed Joda Transition Committee and Steve Oronsaye reports in order to harmonise their recommendations with the aim of restructuring the public sector that is free of waste, corruption and inefficiencies.

“You would recall that Joda had recommended the consolidation of ministries to 19 to create a leaner structure in government. This is not far removed from the Oronsaye report of 2012, which also recommended the consolidation of parastatals and agencies of the federal government.

“So what the president wants to do is to put a structure in place that cuts waste, reduces or eliminates corruption and introduces efficiency in the system,” he volunteered.

The source said Buhari was very particular about introducing a system that is free of the decay of past administrations.

He also dispelled concerns that the business of governance had ground to a halt due to the absence of ministers to provide direction, stating that the “business of governance is ongoing because the president is meeting with permanent secretaries of the ministries and heads of parastatals and getting things done through them”.

The source explained that the first phase of the agenda is to reform and restructure the public sector, “following which the appointment of ministers who will deliver on the president’s campaign promises under a new system and ethos with clear guidelines and processes, will take place”.

The source also revealed that in spite of the delay in the appointment of ministers, Buhari might in the next week or two appoint a few advisers.

“However, he is currently working with a few people on a not formalised basis, as they are the ones assisting him to distill the two reports and will make recommendations on the immediate reforms that can be implemented in the public sector,” he said.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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SHALINA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF TRUST, REITERATES COMMITMENT TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN AFRICA

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In celebration of its 40 years in Africa, a leading Afro-focused multinational company, Shalina Healthcare has reiterated its commitment to the delivery of quality healthcare in Africa. Declaring this in Lagos on Friday at the event to wrap up the company’s 2023/24 financial year and celebrate its 40 years of its existence, the Chief Commercial Officer, West Africa of the company, Arun Raj said the company “is determined to continually fulfill its corporate mission of making quality products available to every African at affordable prices.

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According to him;  ” It has been 40 years of trust in Africa and these 40 years,  the people of the continent have also reciprocated the trust in our quality products and healthcare delivery.”

Also, in his corporate presentation as well as new financial year projection, the Head, Corporate Marketing of the Company, Folorunso Alaran said; “the Company is building on the trust Africans have in its products and services over the year and is committed to healthy Africa.  It has been forty years of available, affordable and quality products for Africans.”

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In the words of Mr. Nirmal Jain CEO Shalina consumer Global,

“At Shalina, we believe that every African must have access to good products.  And for the last forty years, we have been trusted for our quality products. And more so, through our many initiatives and healthcare interventions, Shalina has continually raised the bar in healthcare delivery.”

Speaking further, Mr. Debajeet Mukherjee CEO Shalina Pharma Global, posited that; “despite the prevailing economic challenges, we do not waver in delivering our corporate purposes of available, affordable and quality health products. It is our belief that economic challenges should not hinder people’s access to quality healthcare.  Either the economy is good or bad, it shouldn’t affect the lives of the people in an adverse way. Despite the fact that some companies are leaving Nigeria, we are expanding our team in the country.  This is because we have trust and believe in Nigeria.”

In her own presentation at the event, the Company’s Managing Director, Nigeria ,  Opeyemi Akinyele said the company “is focused to become number one brand in Nigeria and continually promote the best of healthcare delivery in the country. ”

“Through our products, activities and interventions we have been doing greatly to ensure that quality healthcare is available and affordable for every citizen. And this is a promise that will remain unbroken ” She said.

Appreciating the members of staff of the company for their commitment and supporting roles in the company, Akinleye said “without you, your roles and efforts, we won’t be here and the successes recorded in the out gone year won’t be possible.  We also rely on your continuous support and commitment in the new year. ”

Meanwhile as part of the company’s end of year activities, many staff members were given awards of excellence in different categories for 2023/24 financial year.  Amongst them were  Lasisi Abiodun, Best Pharma Delegate,  Lawal Abubskar,  Best Medical Delegate,  Ruth Adesua Adewoye,  Best Regional Manager Pharma,  Ganiyu Lateef,  Best CVD Delegate, Mercy Omoji, Best Regional Manager, Consumer, Uzuma Pascal,  Best Zonal Manager, (Global) and  Juliet Ngozi Edward,  Best Consumer Delegate Global .  Winners in other categories included Sandeep Sahu, Folorunso Alaran, Emeka Adimoha, Chiuba Nwaosu among others.

Shalina Healthcare which began its business in Africa in DR Congo in 1984 made entry to Nigeria 25years ago.  It currently has about 2500 staffs globally out of whom 2000 are in Africa.

 

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THE PROPHETIC HALL OF FAME: How I ended “sit at home” in the East, Prophet Godwin Ikuru speaks

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By Collins Nkwocha

One of the major problems of the Eastern region was the “sit at home” menace which crippled business activities in the entire Eastern region; several lives have been lost in the process of enforcing this as the enforcers have always been very cruel and wicked, killing anyone who refuses to obey the order.

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Disturbed by the cruelty of the enforcers and how many lives that have been lost through this act, the prophetic Hall of Fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos,made a public declaration that “sit at home” was going to be over in the East.

People didn’t believe it when he said it, everyone believed that only the release of Nnamdi Kanu was going to end “sit at home” in the East.prophet Ikuru said that it would stop even while Kanu is still in detention.

Today,”sit at home” has ended in the East, people now go about their normal businesses on Monday.Today, the dreaded “sit at home” enforcers are nowhere to be found, you can do anything or carry out any business activity of your choice on monday because God has honoured the word of his prophet.

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Prophet Godwin Ikuru is one of the best prophets in Nigeria,he remains a major part of the ruling party in Nigeria.He is the major prophet that brought the president to power .

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Ondo Guber: APC Screening Committee Clears Female Aspirant, Funmi Ayinke

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The only female aspirant in the contest for the APC governorship ticket in Ondo state, Engr. (DR) Oluwafunmilayo Ayinke Waheed-Adekojo has been cleared by the screening committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday Friday, 12th of April, 2024.

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The screening process which normally involves validation of candidates’ credentials and eligibility to contest was without hassle for Funmi Ayinke as there were no discrepancies in her credentials especially for the fact that she has proven records in the public space confirming her credibility and eligibility for the contest.

When asked about her plans for the people of Ondo state by the committee, Funmi Ayinke expressed the need for Ondo state to evolve using technology and Artificial intelligence which she is very knowledgeable in, narrating how she generated electricity through briquette.

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She stated that Ondo state needs an engineer who is vast in the application of technology which would of course; secure a better position for the state internationally.

‘’I am vast in the knowledge of technology and Artificial intelligence, the world is changing and we can’t continue to remain as we are. We need an engineer who is vast and knowledgeable in all of these. I developed the generation of electricity through briquette so when we have this kind of grace in Ondo state, we should not waste it.’’

Continuing, Funmi Ayinke expressed confidence in securing the party’s ticket because all women in the state have thrown their weight behind her. She noted that many women decided to support her ambition because she has been a source of hope for them before she thought of a governorship ambition.

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Speaking further on the support she has received so far, Funmi Ayinke recounted the massive crowd that besieged her rally ground in Akure without paying a dime.

‘’Women come to me that they want to pay me back with their support because I have been a source of hope for them. Women vote more in Ondo state and I have that confidence that this is my time, I have sown the seed, it’s time for harvest.’’

‘’In the last rally we did, I didn’t pay any women to attend, It was just an open invitation and we shut down the whole of Akure, this means people know what they want and they appreciate the fact that we have the courage to come out. Without woman, there is no vote, no nation.’’

The screening process ended with cheers from the committee, congratulatory messages from officials at the party’s secretariat and prayers of victory from women in the secretariat premises.

 

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