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Why I excluded private sector players in economic team – Buhari

By on July 25, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari said he was averse to the inclusion of members of the private sector in his administration’s Economic Management Team because such people frequently steer government policy to suit their own narrow interests.

According to a statement by the Presidency on Sunday, the President spoke in an interview he granted a magazine, The Interview.

Buhari was said to be reacting to criticisms that he has no economic team.

During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, private sector players such as Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Femi Otedola, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Mr. Atedo Peterside among others were members of the EMT.

But the President said he did not include private players in his team because such people do not work for the over-all national interest.

He said, “The Vice-President heads our Economic Management Team.

“You have Finance Minister, Budget and Planning Minister, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, Governor at the Central Bank, National Economic Adviser and others. Some still ask for a team. I don’t know how they define the word ‘team.’

“We will listen to everybody but we are averse to economic team whose private sector members frequently steer government policy to suit their own narrow interests rather than the over-all national interest.”

Buhari also said that one of the things on his priority list is to change the way things are done in Nigeria.

He said that was the only way that could lead the nation into a great future.

Buhari was also said to have expressed his desire to see a Nigeria where all funds are used to the benefit of the common man.

“My wish is that we will truly change the way we do things in Nigeria. Therein lies the future of our country as a great entity.

“I also wish for a fully diversified Nigerian economy which is no longer dependent on oil only and a Nigeria where every naira that comes into the treasury is used for the good of the people, particularly, the ordinary people,” the President said.

 

[Punch]