SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF BORNO STATE, HON. KASHIM SHETTIMA, AT THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF CHIEF OF STAFF,HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERS, PERMANENT SECRETARIES, CHAIRMAN HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SERVICE COMMISSION AND CARE-TAKER CHAIRMAN OF MMC; WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24,2014 AT MULTI PURPOSE HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, MAIDUGURI PROTOCOL Like I have said at previous times, very few things truly excite me in the last three and half years as Governor of Borno State and this is mainly because, day after day, our innocent and very precious citizens in different parts of Borno State are continually being killed in very brutal manners, by men who murder teenagers, old men and women and destroy communities in the name of our loving God. Yes, I smile and laugh just to bury what is inside me, but in real sense, I live with inner sorrow. Hardly do happenings truly excite me. I am afraid; my situation will only be changed the day the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State is brought to an end through intensive and shared efforts with the Federal Government, which has the exclusive mandate of securing all Nigerians and their property. The most basic of all human needs are the right to live, safety from violence and protection from harm. Every other need is next to these because a person has to be alive to meet any other human need. Given our situation in Borno State which will insha Allah come to an end, my source of near joy for now, is to see us as Government, making genuine impacts on the lives of the surviving citizens Borno State, meeting their other basic needs of food, water, shelter, healthcare, education and jobs as well as other needs in the areas of access to energy, roads, transport, better environment and lots more. We must have it in mind, that as we are gathered here today, some citizens of Borno State may be faced with threats in the country sides, some citizens that escaped, have their houses taken over, turning them into refugees in their own land. We have lost so many grand-parents, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. We have been taken back by nearly 100 years. We have a great task of rebuilding Borno State; we have a great task of comforting our citizens, putting smiles on their faces and building a trusted future for our children and those yet unborn. We must therefore, regard today’s inauguration as opportunities for us to make joint and valuable contributions in the remaking of Borno State for the betterment of its citizens. We have witnessed the swearing-in of our New Chief of Staff, a gentleman to the core who is an epitome of humility. We have witnessed the swearing in of 24 Honourable Commissioners, Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, two Permanent Secretaries, and Caretaker Chairman, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council which are in accordance with provisions in Section 192 (2) and Section 208 (2c and d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Local Government Law 2006 as amended. The appointments, sequel to today’s swearing-in, were based purely on individual merit, professionalism, honesty, selflessness and dedication to the service of Borno State. To the Chief of Staff, I urge you to put in your best considering your wealth of experience as a former Member of House of Representatives and former Commissioner. Just for clarity, the Chief of Staff is to coordinate and oversee the activities of the Government House and staff as well as Government Lodges and staff; he is manage and oversee the Governor’s schedules, coordinate and interface with official guests having direct dealings with the Government House. Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate the Chief of Staff, all Commissioners, the Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, our two Permanent Secretaries, and Caretaker Chairman, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, over your well deserved individual appointments. May I also extend my sincere appreciation to the Borno State House of Assembly for their thorough considerations of nominees and their very kind approval. I equally thank the Honourable House for approving our considerate request to create two additional Ministries. We now have a Ministry of Transportation and Energy which comprises the hitherto transport unit of Ministry of Works and the newly established Borno Energy Development Company and also a Ministry of Monitoring and Special Projects which comprises the Monitoring Department of the Governor’s Office and a Special Project Unit of Government House. The creation of the Ministry of Transport and Energy is not unconnected with Government concerted effort to establish a Solar Power Plant here in Maiduguri for which an Energy Company has since been registered under a trusted management structure, technical steps have reached an advanced stage, a site has already been secured while other necessary actions are being finalized, all in an effort to create alternative source of power supply for our good citizens to have deserved access to electricity for household and business purposes. Having a Ministry in charge of Monitoring will no doubt enhance supervision that is very much needed for improved guarantee on the standard of public projects as well as their delivery for public use. Distinguished Ladies and Gentleman, some people may regard the last six months of this administration’s first term in office as a glee time but for me, we are in the most serious another phase of work. I call it most serious because no matter how good a work is started, the finishing tells everything about the work. The next six months, will insha Allah, see us accelerating and completing all Government Projects and speeding the provision of services to our good citizens. Commissioners have two-point agenda that is both simple and tough. The first agenda is for every commissioner to ensure that all projects, programmes and services connected to respective Ministries are visibly fast-tracked and completed. If a Committee is coordinating a project connected to a Commissioner, I expect that commissioner being a natural member of that committee to work hard and ensure the project is fast-tracked and completed otherwise, that commissioner will be considered to me as a big failure. The second agenda is for every commissioner to immediately hold meetings with respective permanent secretary and directors to make budgetary submission on realistic projects and programmes that must be substantially achieved within the next six months under the strict involvement of commissioners. For us in this administration, our resolve is to serve the people of Borno State no matter the politics before us, after all, many aspects of basic public services like provision of water, food, healthcare, shelter, jobs, education among others go a long way in shaping voting patterns of citizens. There is no better politics like contentment of the average man on the streets. We will insha Allah work for the people of Borno State. I look forward to a post Boko Haram Borno in the soonest of times and a Borno State with a Government that will continue to work for citizens in the next four and half years like a steady clock. I will be holding a meeting with the Deputy Governor, SSG, Chief of Staff, Commissioners and our party leaders immediately after this swearing-in to discuss other issues and extract commitments to our expectations, because we mean serious business for Borno and its people. Ladies and gentlemen, let me remind Honourable Commissioners as executives of Ministries, the important need to work closely with Permanent Secretaries who are the accounting officers of Ministries. I urge Permanent Secretaries who by years in public service have experienced familiarity with operations of Government, to be steadfast in supporting your Commissioners so we succeed as a team. It is also important to hold regular meetings to assess extent in implementation of Ministerial projects and programmes in order to re-strategize where there is need. Accountability and transparency in the management of all funds should be your guiding principles as leaders holding Ministries in trust. You should ensure that you to work within budgetary provisions and abide by financial regulations and procurement procedures while carrying all your staff along in order to fully utilize their knowledge and commitments with a view to improving public service delivery. Let me reiterate that Government will not tolerate any misuse of scarce resources but will reward hard work, honesty and dedication to duty. To the Chairman, I enjoin you to justify the confidence reposed in you and improve upon what your predecessors have done especially now that we are approaching judgment day when citizens will show whether or not we have met their yearnings and aspirations. We must mobilize the youths and carry them along through the execution of people oriented projects and programmes such as poverty alleviation, skills acquisition, portable water supply, healthcare facilities and others. You should also ensure prudence, transparency and accountability in the management of the Council’s fund. On a final note, I once again congratulate you all and wish you successful tenure of office while enjoining you to abide by the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance which you have just taken. May Allah grant us peace and succor to enable us achieve our objectives. May He admit all those who have died into aljanna and He guide us in our efforts to reclaim Borno and rebuild for humanity and posterity. Thank you and God bless.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 18:40:54 +0000
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