By Yahaya Isah
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has tasked the paramilitary agencies under his supervision, to rededicate themselves in the discharge of their duties professionally for better service delivery.
The minister gave the charge in his welcome address at the ministry’s top management retreat for its officers and agencies on Saturday in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo urged them to ensure efficiency and demonstration of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda in their various services for a better Nigeria.
“Renewe hope in the sense of performing better in terms of meeting the yearnings of Nigerians in a more effective and efficient way, by ensuring the security of Nigerians especially, internal security.
“Remember that whatever you do, it is in the interest of the country and Nigerians. So, professionalism must be brought to bear as you go about your responsibilities,” he stressed.
According to him, the major reason for convening the retreat is to bring everybody concerned together to deliberate and share ideas for a better Nigeria.
“As from now henceforth, we are going to be coming together every six months, where every C-G will have to present to us his or her achievements in their various agencies.
“You see, I want you people to see running public offices as the way you run your own private offices or businesses.
“We must bring that mentality of the way you handle your private businesses or offices to bear in handling public offices.
“You must up your games, think inward and come up with solutions. I have always said that money is not always the solution to problems, but understanding the problems first, then you proffer solutions to them.
“So, whoever is not ready to add value to public businesses, should up his or her game, or find his or her way out.
“The president cannot do it alone neither myself. So, let us all up our games for a better Nigeria,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo commended the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the wonderful job it had been doing, adding that more could still be done for a safer and secured Nigeria.
“I like what you started with the private security guards, but you can still achieve more especially, in the area of protecting the nation’s critical national asset.
“For the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) personnel, ensure a display of fundamental human rights of inmates, as the centres are transformational, rather than destructive centres,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo reminded the fire service personnel that their profession was one of the highest employers of labour in any part of the world, being the first responders to any emergency situations.
He urged them to move from just being responders to enumerators and regulators.
The minister urged them to always ensure to be at the forefront as there was a need for them to always play a pivotal role in national development.”
Earlier, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, stated that the retreat would enable them to assess themselves, in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
“The retreat, no doubt, is to demonstrate a commitment to bringing the president’s vision of a safer and secured Nigeria to fruition.
“As you all know that the ministry and its agencies are playing a vital role in the internal security ecosystem of the country.
“We strive to ensure the safety and security of our country, in an ever evolving and complex global landscape.
“The challenges we face are formidable, but so too, is our collective resolve to confront them with our unwavering determination and strategic foresight for better Nigeria,” she said.(NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Bashir Rabe Mani
