President Muhammadu Buhari has banned large convoys, retinue of aides, protocol staff for the incoming ministers as revealed by, a minister-designate, Dr. Chris Ngige
He said this to State House correspondents at the conclusion of a two-day ministerial retreat organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The theme of the retreat, which was held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, was ‘Delivering Change: From Precepts to Practice.’
Buhari had, while declaring the retreat open on Thursday, told the ministers-designate that his administration would make the running of government as lean as possible by avoiding waste and conserving resources.
The president, who had also stressed the need to observe the rule of law and remove impunity from government conduct, told the ministers-designate that he expected them to be more determined to work as a team and live up to the high standards of probity and integrity expected by Nigerians.
“You (ministers-designate) are coming on board the ship of governance at an interesting time. So much has been said about the state of our economy. It is expected that we make the running of government at all levels as lean as possible, avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change,” Buhari said.
Fielding questions from journalists, Ngige, the minister-designate from Anambra State, corroborated the president’s position that the economy was lean and that leakages were going to be blocked.
“Yes, lean economy because we are going to block areas of leakages. Retinue of aides, protocol staff, large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration”, the former Anambra state governorsaid.
The two-day ministerial retreat was held behind closed doors and it ended without a communiqué issued.