I don't understand why ministers and public officers would be throwing
lavish parties at home and abroad in a country where people cannot
afford 3 square meals.I will sack whoever I found indulging in expensive
partying. Enough is enough.
President Goodluck Jonathan is not yet done with heavy spending
socialites in his cabinet or the public service.Guess thats why Gov of
Lagos state stopped his aides from organising a party for him.Please
continue...
As a follow up to his recent removal of the Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr.AbdulAzeez Musa, for allegedly
throwing a lavish wedding party for his daughter in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, President Jonathan has threatened to sack any minister or
government official who holds an expensive or lavish party at home or
abroad.
He said such ostentatious ministers must abide by the Code of Conduct for public officers or quit immediately.
He directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Bukar
Goni Aji, to write to all permanent secretaries, directors and civil
servants to stop such habit while security agencies, especially
anti-graft commissions, were asked to keep a watch on ministers and
public officers.
It was gathered that the President read the Riot Act to the Ministers at
the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday
following security reports on the extravagant lifestyles of some
ministers and public servants.
The security reports exposed how some ministers and officers had been
ferrying guests abroad for birthday, marriage, chieftaincy, house
warming and funeral parties.
Choice countries for such expensive parties are Dubai and Abu Dhabi in
the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of
America, South Africa, Ghana, The Gambia and Ireland.
Some cabinet members were also alleged to have sprayed dollars at such parties.
A Presidency source familiar with the issue said: “The Ministers got
more than they bargained for at the FEC meeting when the President spent
some time to condemn ostentatious lifestyles of public officers.
“He said he could not understand why ministers and public officers would
be throwing lavish parties at home and abroad in a country where people
cannot afford three square meals.”
The source quoted the President as saying: “I will sack whoever is found
to be indulging in this unnecessary and expensive partying at home or
abroad from this cabinet. Enough is enough.
“Why will a public officer on salary be organising parties abroad with
many guests flying there on his ticket? All public officers engaging in
this habit will henceforth be shown the way out. The Head of the Civil
Service of the Federation should write a directive to all permanent
secretaries, directors and civil servants to abide by their Code of
Conduct and Civil Service Rules and Regulations.”
Asked how the ministers reacted when the President read the riot act,
the source added: “There was pin-drop silence at the Executive Chambers
of the Presidential Villa. They all got the message.”
It was however baffling, even to the President and some ministers, that
those who briefed the press after the weekly FEC meeting “shielded the
ban on partying away from the issues treated.
“None of the Ministers at the post-FEC briefing mentioned this important directive of the President,” the source noted.
It was learnt that the presidency has placed security agencies,
especially anti-graft commissions, on the alert to watch out for such
extravagant public officers.
Another presidency source added: “Henceforth, all ministers and public
officers will be under watch by anti-graft agencies in order to fish out
the bad ones.
“Certainly, there is no more hiding place for cabinet members.”
This is the second time FEC members would be warned by President Goodluck Jonathan against reckless spending.
via The Nation
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