Buhari tells ministers they can only bring two guests to Wednesday's inauguration

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has laid down a set of stringent laws for his incoming ministers making it clear that they will only be permitted to embark on foreign trips that are absolutely necessary as he warned that they will only be allowed two guests to Wednesday's swearing-in.

 

Later this week, President Buhari will swear in his ministers in Abuja and as part of the inauguration exercise, he has made it clear that he intends to run a lean government. Traditionally, Nigerian ministers have enjoyed flamboyant lifestyles that have included expensive shopping trips abroad and large entourages.

 

As part of his programme to inject sanity into public life, President Buhari has told ministers that the squandermania era is over. Femi Adesina, President Buhari's spokesman, pointed out that as a start, the president has ruled that each minister-designate can only be accompanied by two guests to the inauguration.

 

He added: “President Muhammadu Buhari will officially inaugurate a new federal executive council on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Before the commencement of the inaugural session of the council, the ministers-designate will take their oaths of office in the council chambers of the presidential villa and each minister-designate can only be accompanied to the swearing-in ceremony by a maximum of two guests.”

 

Restricting guests of new ministers to two during inauguration is a departure from the jamboree that usually attends such events in the past when the lucky appointees were often accompanied by a crowd of family members, colleagues, friends and associates. During the administration of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, ministers were allowed to attend their inauguration with their spouses, children, colleagues and their immediate family members.

 

In some cases, traditional rulers and state governors also accompanied the ministers to their inauguration. In fact there were instances during the administrations of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua that traditional drummers and dancers accompanied ministers to their inauguration.

 

Meanwhile, despite the decision of the election petition tribunal that declared her the duly elected as governor of Taraba State, Senator Aisha Alhassan, will still be inaugurated as minister alongside 35 others. President Buhari has been holding a retreat with the minister designates and has made it clear that foreign travels will be restricted to essential ones.