President Goodluck Jonathan has warned ministers against misappropriating public funds, saying neither he nor Vice President Namadi Sambo would offer any form of protection to anyone who does that.
The President gave this warning during the induction ceremony of new ministers and special advisers and permanent secretaries of ministries at a retreat.
He stated that public funds were meant for public use and not for individual consumption and, therefore, should not be tampered with.
"Let me again reiterate that public funds are meant for the public good and I am quite pleased to know that this administration's fidelity to the rule of law is common knowledge, because neither the Vice President nor I will offer protection to any one in government whose integrity is called to question," he said.
The retreat, according to the President, was the first in a series of retreats initiated to help retool and energise key managers of the administration towards a more purposeful, effective and productive service delivery.
He said that since Ministers, Special Advisers and other aides were coming from various backgrounds, a programme of this nature would also serve as a foundation for building team spirit.
"This retreat will be succeeded by another retreat with the private sector, targeted at growing our economy with inputs from all stakeholders. We are determined to tap into the impressive pool of talented Nigerians hungry to join hands in developing our nation," he added.
Whilst charging them to run with the vision of his administration to ensure that they deliver on promises made to Nigerians, he urged both returning and new ministers to work with their hearts.
"Honourable Ministers, Special Advisers, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we are not here to reinvent the wheel," he said. "Where a particular model of governance has succeeded in bringing happiness to the governed, we must not hesitate in drawing lessons from its successes. However, we must also not be shy in deploying revolutionary leadership in the governance of our MDAs where such is required to make them work. Ministers must effectively supervise their ministries, agencies and departments under them and ensure that they are positioned to add value to good governance and create jobs for our youth.
"For those of you who have been there before, this is a second chance for you to improve on your previous performance. For first-time ministers, I urge you to seize this moment of opportunity to serve Nigeria with your heart and all your might."
Advice from Mr Obasanjo
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the opening session of the two-day induction course, enumerated the constitutional roles and powers of the minister as opposed to that of the President.
"The first important thing that I believe that all members of the Executive in government should know is the position of and the authority of the President as stipulated in our constitution, in section 130 (2) of the 1999 constitution. The President shall be the head of state, chief executive of the federation and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the federation.
"The President may, at his discretion, assign the VP, or any minister of the government, responsibility for any business of the government, including the administration of any department of government. Section 148(2) stipulates that the president shall hold regular meetings for the purposes of determining domestic and foreign polices, etc". This, he said, formed the basis of the regular federal Executive Council meetings.
He noted that advice can be given to the President at such regular meetings or one-on-one with the President orally or in form of memorandum, or through committees set up by the President for a particular business of government or through report of participation in international meetings approved by the president.
"No matter how an advice to the president is given, it is meant to be confidential between the President and the person giving the advice. There should be no divulgence except in furtherance to other businesses of government," he said.
The former president congratulated Mr Jonathan for the courage, wisdom and discernment to build a fairly star-studded cabinet which, he said, has both advantages and disadvantages.
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