Nigeria’s youngest Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni has resumed office as the 31st permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence. While receiving the Perm Sec, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) described Dr Kana as an aptly qualified technocrat with the bubbling energy and intelligence to deliver on the mandate given to him, stressed that the synergy between the office of the minister and the permanent secretary would be results oriented, General Magashi emphasized.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana pledged total commitment to the mandate of the ministry and vowed to submit himself in loyalty and dedication to the Minister whom he described as an elder statesman with sincere commitment to the Nigerian project.
‘I shall submit myself to the Honourable Minister under who lies all the powers in this ministry. I will ensure discipline reigns supreme in the ministry and all civil servants wake up to their responsibilities of delivering government’s policies’. Dr. Kana further stated ‘that the huge investment of government to the ministry must reflect in improved security situation in the country’.
Reiterating further, he charged staff of the ministry to shun acts capable of derailing goverment’s policies and objectives and tasked them to give their best for the betterment of the country- added that, the ministry which has 100% budgetary funding release from government has no reason to be found wanting whatsoever. He also warned staff to desist from needless bickering, unethical dispositions and other misdemeanours capable of undermining set goals. He promised to ensure smooth relationship between the ministry and the Defence Headquarters, whom he stated that all support must be extended to them in prosecuting the war against insurgency and terrorism in the country. Dr. Kana believed that welfare of officers and men of the Armed Forces would be his priority.
Dr Kana called on the labour union of the ministry to join in the drive towards achieving government’s mandate as only collective effort can foster government-union relationship.
