President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday warned that any of the seven newly-inaugurated ministers “caught in corrupt practices would face the full wrath of the law.”

This was as he urged them to eschew corruption, saying public officers must be above board.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President issued the warning at the swearing-in of the ministers which preceded a meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The newly-appointed ministers and their portfolios are: Ikechukwu Ikoh (Minister of State, Science and Technology); Umana Umana (Minister of Niger Delta Affairs); Udi Odum (Minister of State, Environment); Ademola Adegoroye (Minister of State, Transport); Umar El-Yakub (Minister of State, Works and Housing); Goodluck Opiah (Minister of State, Education) and Nkama Ekumankama (Minister of State, Health).

Buhari re-assigned four ministers during the inauguration.

They include Minister of Science and Technology (formerly Minister of State, Health), Adeleke Mamora; Minister of Transportation (formerly Minister of State, Works and Housing), Mu’azu Sambo; Minister of State, Niger Delta (formerly Minister of State, Environment), Sharon Ikeazor; and Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development (formerly Minister of State, Transportation), Gbemisola Saraki.

Buhari said the redeployment was aimed at reinvigorating certain sectors where the government desire to accomplish improved results.

“You must resist bad counsel and temptation and be circumspect in your utterances and conduct. You must totally eschew corruption and be above board because if caught, there will be no sacred cows,” Buhari warned.

He further asked the newly appointed ministers to await further communication on their appropriate ministerial mandates from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The President also urged the new ministers to study their sectors, take wise counsel, reach out to key stakeholders, consult and collaborate with older cabinet colleagues and focus on driving key programmes already initiated by the regime. He charged them to “be loyal to your President and your country.”

Punch