I appointed women as finance ministers, so I can have peace – Buhari
Story from Haruna YUSUF, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari revealed on Tuesday that he intentionally appointed women as Finance Ministers throughout his eight-year tenure to prevent disruptions caused by individuals seeking contracts and payment for services rendered.
The President stated that he recognized the reluctance of most men to approach a female Finance Minister for contracts or payments due to their ego and pride.
“I purposely selected female ministers to ensure peace within the Ministry of Finance. I wanted to leverage cultural norms and behaviors in Nigeria, where people feel too superior to approach women for their needs. By placing a woman in charge, I hoped to create an atmosphere of tranquility. Individuals would hesitate to approach women, feeling that they are too important for such matters. This decision brought me a great deal of peace,” President Buhari explained during the inauguration of the new Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) corporate headquarters in Abuja.
In his earlier address, Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) expressed gratitude to President Buhari for his unwavering commitment to revitalizing the NCS. He commended the NCS corporate headquarters as the most cost-effective project ever undertaken in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
READ ALSO: PMB to inaugurate Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in grand ceremony
The construction of the NCS headquarters, which commenced in 2005, required an investment of ₦19.6 billion before its completion this year.
During a media briefing held prior to the commissioning Deputy Comptroller-General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi Bashir, informed journalists that the staff would be gradually relocated to the new facility, but he did not specify the fate of the old office building.
“The new building spans an area of approximately 25,000 square meters, offering spacious and comfortable working environments across its 13 floors, including a basement, ground floor, 1st to 10th floors, and a penthouse. Standing at a height of approximately 40 meters, it is one of the tallest structures within the Maitama business district, exuding an air of pride and significance among neighbouring buildings.
“To facilitate ease of reference and identification, the building is divided into four zones: Wing A, Wing B, Tower, and the Bridge Building. The Tower accommodates the executive and upper cadre staff offices, spanning 12 floors, including a penthouse. It also houses the Head Office and a main auditorium with a seating capacity of 150 to 200 persons. Additionally, each lower-level floor features a meeting/conference room and a training hall for staff development,” he elaborated.