Suspend personal ambitions for Nigeria’s progress, Tinubu tells ministers

President Bola Tinubu has asked memberss of his cabinet to put aside their personal ambitions and focus on the progress of the country.

Tinubu spoke on Friday at the end of the three-day retreat for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries and top government functionaries at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

“Let us put aside personal ambitions and focus on the progress of our nation. It is through this we can be truly proud,” Tinubu said.

“I ran for election, I won, they took me to court, and I also won.

“I want to obtain a promise that we are going to work as a team, we are going to work for Nigerians. If you agree, stand up and say, I am a Nigerian.”

The retreat also called for prioritisation of artificial intelligence and recommended that performance bond will be developed for civil servants.

On the opening day of the retreat, Tinubu had warned that ministers who do not deliver on their assignments and set targets would be sent packing from the federal cabinet.

Tinubu stressed that renewed hope agenda, is more than growing the economy, but an indication that the government has a responsibility to all Nigerians to change the narrative about the country.

The president  noted  that if cabinet members have any problem about Nigeria, they should have a conversation about it.

“The renewed hope agenda more than economic growth. Like I said at the opening we can spend the money but we cannot spend the people,” Tinubu said.

“We have a responsibility to our country to make sure we change completely the narrative about Nigeria.

“If we have problems, let’s talk to one another, let’s have conversations, gentle conversations about our country.

“It’s not about just leave me alone I’m going home, you may not have a home.

“There’s nothing you can do successfully without good healthcare, reduction poverty. Like I said before, poverty is not a shameful thing but is not acceptable.”

The president stressed the need for the officials to bond together and ensure that the country recovers from “elephantiasis”.

While reiterating that Nigeria has a lot of work ahead, Tinubu added that responsibilities the ministers have are not just titles, but aimed at bringing hope to Nigerians.

“The responsibility we bear are not just titles, they are hope and aspiration of millions of Nigerians,” he said.

“You might be ready to forget about the rest of the world but as a Nigerian, let’s go out there, let’s bond together and make sure our country is fully recovered from elephantiasis.

Tinubu added that no one can make excuses including himself.

Hadiza Usman, special adviser on policy and coordination to the president, gave an overview of the details of the key performance indicators ( KPI).