From Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has told Chief Executives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs), that they are not mere technocrats but political appointees who must work for the success and continuity of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Professor Yilwatda stated this on Wednesday while receiving the Forum of MDA Chief Executives at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, describing the Secretariat as their home built through the sacrifices of party faithfuls.
He said many people described the appointees as technocrats, and political appointees who earned the confidence of President Tinubu because of their competence, experience and commitment, stressing that their appointments were not accidental.
According to him, for every person serving in public office today, there are countless other Nigerians with similar qualifications, therefore the opportunity is a privilege that must be justified through service, performance and loyalty to the mandate entrusted to them.
Yilwatda warned that indifference is not an option, noting that if those in public office are not actively contributing to the success of the administration, they are failing to maximise the opportunity and responsibility entrusted to them.
He identified poor communication of government achievements as a major challenge facing the current administration, saying significant work is being done across sectors but many Nigerians do not hear about it because achievements do not speak for themselves.
The APC Chairman said achievements must be communicated clearly, consistently and credibly, and urged the agency heads to bridge the information gap between government and the people since they understand the projects, policies and outcomes directly impacting citizens.
Drawing inspiration from former US President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to put a man on the moon, Yilwatda said President Tinubu’s vision of building a one-trillion-dollar economy requires collective effort, and every agency must state what contributions it is making towards that goal.
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda is fundamentally about creating conditions for sustained growth, noting that strategic infrastructure investments including deep seaports, coastal highway, rail expansion, ports, logistics corridors and energy reforms are components of a broader strategy to create jobs, attract investment and strengthen competitiveness.
Yilwatda called for stronger collaboration between the party and the MDAs, saying the vision of a one-trillion-dollar economy is not the responsibility of a single ministry but a collective national project that requires alignment across government, private sector and political stakeholders, and that results must be effectively communicated so Nigerians understand the long-term benefits of the reforms.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Kazeem Raji had declared that the group will contribute 10 million votes to Tinubu’s reelection and will work hard to inform the public about the results of the President’s performance.
Dr. Raji faulted the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (APCPC), and stated that because the council alone cannot succeed in campaigning for the President’s re-election, the Forum of MDAs has created an Independent National Campaign Council to help the APCPC with its work.
