I’m not promising heaven on earth, says new SGF

Boss Mustapha, the new secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says though he and other government appointees are not promising heaven on earth, they can bring hope to Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mustapha on Monday after sacking Babachir Lawal who a senate committee indicted of corruption.

After meeting with Buhari, Mustapha told state house correspondents that though it was not proper to talk before being sworn in, he had a general picture of his direction.

“We (government appointees) are not promising heaven on earth, but we can move our people from this state of squalor in which they are to a state where there will be hope,” he said.

“And if there is hope that things will be better, the people of Nigeria are very understanding people and I can assure you that they will continue to give this government the kind of support that will require to push the nation ahead.”

He said Nigeria’s problem is not the lack of information and policy formulation but the coordination of existing policies to help achieve set our goals.

Mustapha said Nigeria needs an “emergency acceleration” to get out of where it is.

“Mr. President has cast the vision, all of us that are appointees of government have the singular responsibility to ensure that we run with that vision,” he said.

“He has made it plain and whichever vision that has been made plain for those that are being charged with responsibilities.

“We are supposed to run with that vision to ensure that at the end of the day the dividends of democracy is delivered to the people of Nigeria.

“We went round and campaigned and sought for their mandate, freely they gave us and it behoves on us charged with responsibilities to ensure that we do not disappoint them.

“The expectations are great out there. But we’ve come at a time when the resources are very, very lean, in some cases not available, but I believe with prudent management as being put in place by Mr. President we’ll be able to navigate these very difficult terrains and at the end of the day every Nigerian will have a smile on his face.”