Emameh Gabriel in Abuja
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has described the appointment of Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha as one that would yield positive impact in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The former governor of Anambra State said this in Abuja Monday during the inauguration reception of Onyejeocha that was attended by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; Senators Osita Izunaso, Ifeanyi Ararume, Betty Apiafa Nkechi Nwogu; Ene Obi (Action Aid), Moji Makunjuola, Hon. Goodluck Opia (former Minister for State Education); former acting Governor and Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Stanley Ohajuruka, and a host of other dignitaries.
Onyejeocha and 44 other ministers had earlier Monday took oath office that was administered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
In his goodwill message at the reception, Ngige, who chaired the event, described Onyejeocha as a grassroots politician with the requisite knowledge for the job.
He said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poached her some years back because of her ability to win elections and her experience as administrator and grassroots politician.
He said: “It’s not easy to be a grassroots politician and for your people to ask you to go and represent them each time you come.
“We need to thank God for her and what she has been able to do. I come from the South-east and I am one of the promoters of the APC. As a matter of fact, we brought it down to the South-east. I can tell you that we did everything possible to poach her from the PDP because we realised that when we get her, we will always win her constituency- Isiukwator-Imunneochi Federal Constituency.
“It’s a good thing that Mr. President spotted her and decided to bring her into his cabinet. So, she is coming into the cabinet with a lot of experiences; legislative, executive, because she was a local government chairman and a commissioner before in Abia State.
“This is woman who has been returned to the House for four conservative times and even this fifth time. Nobody is too sure because I heard they are in the tribunal. It’s left for her to choose whether to go back there or continue as a minister.”
While expressing confidence in the capacity of Hon. Simon Lalong and Onyejeocha, Ngige said the Labour Ministry now has a woman in the labour room at the ministry who would attend to emergency cases.
He charged them to put the interest of the country first to help the president deliver in his promises to Nigerians.
“You will go there to shine as usual in the Renewed Hope agenda of the president. God does not give people yoke that is above them to carry.
“At the Ministry of Labour, we left the ministry at a level and the level it is today, I am very sure with you and Hon. Simon Lalong, you people will lift it to a more enviable level,” he said.
