"We will work for free"- Nigerian new ministers speak
Several ministers - designates have disclosed
willingness to work for free for the nation following
President Muhammadu Buhari ’s recent
pronouncement that the country is broke.
Some of the ministers who said this include Mr .
Adebayo Shittu and Professor Isaac Adewole.
“It is an issue of national service . There is nothing
too much to sacrifice . If that is what our situation
in Nigeria demands, then we must put ourselves up
selflessly. We cannot say because of selfishness ,
we cannot work selflessly, ” Shittu said .
“With my background as somebody from a very
humble family , I know what poverty is and I have
been experiencing it . I have been dogged in
conforming to the dictates of politics and poverty.
There is nothing too much to sacrifice for the
service of our people. ”
Adewole, a former Vice Chancellor of the University
of Ibadan also said similar thing .
“It is a great honour to serve one ’s fatherland and I
can tell you Prof. Adewole is ready to serve
Nigeria without collecting salaries.
“Everything is not about money. It is a privilege
and a great honour to serve . This is what he was
doing at his former school. He was paying some
teachers employed to complement government’ s
efforts.
The past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, also said he did not accept to be a
minister for personal and pecuniary gains .
Another minister - designate , Mr . James Ocholi ,
said he will not run away from challenges .
He said , “ I will not run away from challenges . If the
first challenge in the new assignment is to solve
the financial crisis of the federation, I will be
willing to devote time and attention to solving it
before any other national issue .”