By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
Minister of Solid Minerals Dr Dele Alake has stated that the performance of each and every staff of the ministry will be monitored and measured with a view to promoting and rewarding diligence for enhanced productivity.
Alake disclosed this in his keynote address while declaring open the 2024 Ministerial Step-down Retreat themed: “Delivering on the Eight Presidential Priorities” on Friday in Abuja.
He reminded the audience of staff that the goal of the retreat was to discuss ways to deliver on the priority areas set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“During this retreat, we will have the opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions especially towards the Ministry’s 7-Point Agenda, share best practices, harvest ideas and identify innovative strategies to actualize the eight (8) presidential priorities through the Eighteen (18) deliverables. We will explore avenues to enhance our local content through value addition, create jobs, attract foreign direct investments, support small and medium-sized companies, and foster sustainable economic development,” Alake said.
According to him, the deliverables of the ministry falls under Priority Area 4 which is to “Unlock Energy and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development”, and the importance of delivering on it cannot be over emphasised as the Nigerian economy is in need of rapid economic growth through the Solid Mineral Sector given the limitless value it can provide.
The Minister said it was in the quest to achieve the ministry’s deliverables that he, upon assumption of office, developed the 7-point agenda which he presented to the public earlier, urging the staff to acquaint themselves and work with it as there will be no room for non-performing members of staff.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the time to take a second look at your job description, identify your key performance indicators and add value to our work. This week, I issued a directive on the Digest of Mining Statistics. It is to build a regular flow of information and monitor the flow of job performances in the system with a view to promoting and rewarding diligence. Everyone must earn his pay and those who sleep on their job will have to find somewhere else to doze,” Alake stressed.
Alake who sermonised his address, tasking the staff on commitment, diligence, abstinence from corruption, and productivity, alluded his message to Proverbs 22 verse 29 in the Holy Bible which states the glory of a man who is diligent in his work or business.
On his part, the Chairman Senate Committee on Solid minerals, Sampson Ekong, who was represented by his deputy, Mustapha Kabiru, who pledged all necessary legislative support to enable the ministry succeed, stressing that the time had come for the nation to utilised her abundant solid mineral resources turn around the fortunes of the country.
“I am glad at the energy and interest the Minister is putting in the sector because the nation is blessed with minerals resources which are all over the land; what is lacking is for us to synergise, organiee and exploit this minerals to our advantage as a country,” he said.
Speaking, the Chairman House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gbefwi, stressed the need for the nation utilised her assets to bring about the desired industrialisation and human capital development.
Delivering welcome address earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Mary Ogbe, urged participants to take advantage of the suitable platform provided by the retreat to reflect on the progress made so far and the challenges that lie ahead in the ministry’s quest to advance the solid minerals sector to become one of the highest contributors to the nation’s GDP.
She said the 8 priorities set by Mr President aimed to address key areas that require the staff’s collective responsibility and concerted efforts to build a stronger and prosperous Nigeria.
“In line with these priorities, our Ministry is committed to exploring and exposing the immense potential of the solid minerals sector to national development.
“Through sustainable and responsible mining practices, we aim to harness the rich mineral resources of our country to drive economic growth, job creation, and industrialisation,” she said.
