By Olanrewaju Alao Former governor of Anambra state and minister designate, Dr Chris Ngige has said in line with the country’s economic situation and directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the new cabinet members will not enjoy the luxury of lavish protocol officials and convoys.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the Presidential retreat today, Ngige said the focus of the ministers designate is to contribute their quota to the eradication of poverty and not whether to have portfolios or not to have portfolios.
“Yes, (it will be) a lean economy because we are going to block areas of leakages.
“Retinue of aides, protocol staff, and large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration.
“If you have portfolio or if you don’t have portfolio, it is one single Federal Executive Council.
“You bring whatever it is on the table. That is not a problem at all. We have a right to discuss things around the ministries because it is one single cabinet.
“The important thing is that we want to move our people from where they are now, there is abject poverty which concerns about 75 percent of the populace.
“So, we need to actually restructure the political and social construct of the country and that is what we are going to do. That means poverty will reduce,” he said.
