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Information, Solid Minerals Ministries Partner For Economic Growth

Published

10 months ago

November 24, 2023

Joel Ajayi

Both the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and Solid Minerals Development will cooperate to make the solid Minerals sector actualize it’s goal of contributing significantly to the Gross domestic product of the country.

The Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake made this known on Thursday when he received the Hon Minister of information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris in his Office in Abuja.

Dr Alake explained that the visit by the Hon. Minister of Information and National Orientation ( FMINO), Alhaji Mohammed Idris is most significant in view of the Ministry’s capacity to favourably project the Solid Minerals Sector of the economy in the public glare for economic gains and benefits to the country.

The Minister said: ” his visit has also shed light and put Solid Minerals in public glare . It is to our advantage, and mutual advantage and benefits”.

He further affirmed this strongly, saying ” We will seek your cooperation and infact , I can say categorically, we already have your cooperation in assisting the Solid Minerals sector to meet it’s stated objective of contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of NIGERIA”.

While commending Mr President for appointing a committed and focused person as the Minister for Information and National Orientation, and describing his appointment as ” a round peg in a round hole ”; Dr Alake emphasized that ” In fact our aim and vision is to make this Ministry a very very impactful contributor to the gross domestic product, because it is the next Petroleum of Nigeria, and we have to put all hands together and very confident that together under the able leadership of the President, we are going to take Nigeria back to a higher notch”.

Responding, the Hon. Minister for Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris, affirmed the readiness of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to cooperate with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development towards achieving the vision of Mr President for diversifying the economy.

He foregrounded this by asserting that: ”This is the first ever visit as Information Minister I am making to any Ministry. This is the first one and I said, I won’t go anywhere without coming here. Because I want to draw participation of Nigerians to this very critical sector of our economy. It is very important that all of us recognize that, and to cooperate and also join him in pushing Mr President’s vision to this direction”.

Attesting to the dexterity focus and determination of Dr Alake as Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Alhaji Idris said he has successfully brought the Ministry to limelight and front burner of positive public perception.

”You can see that in the way he has handled the Solid Minerals Ministry. It is not a new Ministry , one of the oldest Ministries around. But not many people, when they say where is Solid Minerals Ministry, they will say where is that one.? “, the Hon Minister of Information and National Orientation stated.

Continuing, Alhaji Idris said:” But since he came here, he has managed to put the Solid Minerals sector in the front burner, to the extent that people are becoming extremely envious of this Ministry. Because of what he has done”.

Riding on these observations, the Minister further cited the advocacy visits of Dr. Alake abroad to drive foreign investors to the country, persuasively directing their attention to Nigeria as a destination point for mining.

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Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has urged the citizens of the country to be patient with the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the lives of its citizens through various policies and programs of the federal government.

The Minister made this submission while delivering his speech at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch. This is the first edition since both Ministries of Youth and Sports had been damaged. The JUNC week which was held at Atiku Hall, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja had its theme: “The working people in a volatile, uncertain, and complex economy”

In the words of the Honourable Minister: “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of its citizens will be transformed”.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper, he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth, and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria. He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury”, Olawande explained.

He emphasized that “leadership is all about being committed to serve. If you are a Minister now, tomorrow you will be addressed as a former Minister, likewise a Director because there is no permanent position but the impact that you made while in that office will speak after you”, the Minister reiterated.

Olawande expressed his gratitude to the workers of the Ministry for being supportive of the government policies and programs. He promised that the welfare of the staff would not be compromised, adding that workers deserve remuneration for being hardworking.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya admonished the staff of the Ministry to put in their best as “Performance Management System” which replaces APER is the criteria to be used for promotion effective next year. This, according to him is because the Performance Management System (PMS) records the best efforts and input of each staff which will in turn be used to grade such staff.

Olusanya who disclosed that the welfare of the staff is his priority as workers deserve the best for the services rendered. He opined that “the hungry man is angry and as a worker, if you are not treated fairly and properly, it is impossible to get the best out of you. As a result, all staff will be treated properly as motivation to propel the best in you”, he concluded.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, in her address, informed that the activity to reinvigorate the Civil Service in a bid to ensure that Civil Servants carry out their duties with much diligence to have efficient and incorruptible civil service is currently on course. She advised workers to wake up and be committed to the service of the nation.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jerry Akume, the General Secretary of the Union expressed his delight in celebrating this year’s edition of the Union week, while highlighting the achievements of the union so far. These include:

Upward review of staff welfare, prompt payment of repatriation allowances, payment of first 28 days allowance, assistance to the sick, general training of staff, and sending forth/retirement package for retired staff.

He also appealed to the Management of the Ministry, saying that irrespective of the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done in such areas as procurement of staff buses, upward review of welfare payment for festive periods, consistent general staff training, and procurement of office and work materials.

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