The president said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the swearing-in ceremony of ministers at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, growth and development is only possible if the ministers are relentless about delivering on specific actions and targets and implementation of government programmes.

It was reported that the president swore-in 43 ministers on Wednesday who would form his cabinet.

Buhari expressed the optimism that the minsters, who had been with him for more than two days, should be ready to work tirelessly to ensure a future where every Nigeria could optimise its potential.

“I believe you are ready to get to work; indeed the work has already started,’’ he said.

The president said that the retreat focused on the road map towards the delivering of government policies, programmes and projects for 2019 to 2023.

He also urged the ministers to intensify efforts to reduce internal security threats and eliminate corruption at all levels.

This, he said, would ensure that citizens were perceived as corruption free in any environment they found themselves and could live and continue their businesses without fear and intimidation.

He said that while recognising the existing challenges and the urgent need to surmount them, Nigerians must not fail to note the progress that the administration had made since inception.

He said that their priority in the next four years was to act together towards delivering the results that the people of Nigeria expected from the ministers.

“We have agreed that we must, as an administration, build on the progress that has already been made in order to fundamentally shift Nigerians trajectory on the part of stable growth and development’’, he said.

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Mr Babatunde Lawal, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation made the announcement in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Lawal, the venue of the programme still remains State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja at 9.00 a. m.

He added that the attendance is strictly by invitation.

Lawal said the programme would be presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He explained that one of the objectives of the retreat is to sensitise the appointees to the status of the implementation of policies, programmes and projects of government from 2015 to date.

The retreat would also focus on building a strong platform for synergy and teamwork, acquaint the appointees with the roadmap for delivery of government’s priorities and next level agenda (2019-2023).

Others are to deepen the understanding of participants on best practices in conducting government business.

According to him, the swearing-in of all ministers-designate by the president will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019 by 11.00 a. m.

“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, invites all ministers-designate, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, federal permanent secretaries and top government functionaries to attend the occasions.“

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Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made the commendation in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said: ”The people of Nigeria want results, and with this list of ministers, we are confident they shall be delivered. Specific portfolios shall be assigned with the inauguration of the cabinet.

”This is a fine, capable and committed group of individuals. Working together, they shall help achieve what we all want and labour toward: a secure, prosperous, corruption-free nation in which nobody is left behind, and talents can flourish.

“The executive approaches this 9th National Assembly with a renewed spirit of openness and enthusiasm.

”Where once we sometimes found impasse, we welcome collaboration; where once suspicion took hold, together, we shall demonstrate mutual trust.”

According to the presidential aide, scrutiny should never mean deadlock but proper governance.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that the 9th National Assembly and the executive arm of government would deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians in the shortest possible time.

”And with a new swathe of national legislators and ministers, we are confident the executive and the legislature can – in partnership – unleash the change Nigerians deserve,” he added.

The Senate had on Tuesday confirmed 43 nominees as ministers of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 23 released the list of 43 nominees to senate for screening and confirmation as ministers.

Following the submission, the senate had on July 24 began the screening of the nominees to determine their suitability for the position.

The screening which lasted for five days came to an end on July 30.

Many of the nominees were asked to take a bow, while few of them were subjected to questions.

The “take a bow” syndrome that dominated the screening exercise was the tradition of the senate to excuse nominees who have had legislative background.

The senate also hinged the reason for asking female nominees to take a bow on the gender sensitive nature of the senate among other reasons.

Following a voice vote for the confirmation of the individual nominees, the senate at plenary confirmed the 43 nominees.

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In a maiden meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, Buhari also said that only those tasted and capable of delivering on assigned mandates will make the ministerial list.

At the meeting held at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday night, Buhari said he was under intense pressure to constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He however said despite the pressure, only those with track records, honesty and credibility would be appointed.

“Many at this dinner meeting are saying they want to see the list of the proposed cabinet so that they can go on leave peacefully.

“I’m very much aware about it; I’m under tremendous pressure on it. But the last cabinet which I headed, most of them, the majority of them I didn’t know them. I had to accept the names and recommendations from the party and other individuals.

“I worked with them for three and half years at least – meeting twice or two weeks in a month. So I know them.

“But, this time around I’m going to be quiet me – me in the sense that I will pick people I personally know,’’ he said.

He, therefore, enjoined the lawmakers to partner with the executive arm in leaving good legacies for the country as his administration was on its last lap.

The president advised the National Assembly to always avoid comparing their parliamentary procedures with that of advanced democracies such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting, refuted media report quoting him as saying that President Buhari would submit the ministerial list to the senate this week.

He said: “Let me take the opportunity to correct that. A senator raised a point of order under personal explanation.

“He said we should be sent the list of the ministers by the executive arm of government and in my response I said the executive is working so hard to ensure that the list of Nigerians that will help this administration work is going to be transmitted and we could even receive it this week.

“We could’ is conditional and I will urge everybody here to report it as it is,” he said.

It was reported that others at the meeting included the Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other presidential aides also attended the meeting.

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