The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi okonjo-Iweal, disclosed, Tuesday, that the task of managing the nation’s economy has given her, the Minister of State, Amb. Bashir Yuguda , the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia and about 70 per cent of the ministry’s staff High Blood Pressure.
She made the disclosure, while commissioning a new clinic and a crèche in the ministry, in Abuja.
According to her, “70 per cent of my staff have high blood pressure. This goes to show the amount of stress we go through. All three of us here (referring to herself, Amb. Yuguda and the Perm. Sec.) have high blood pressure.
“Minister of State has High BP and you are on medication. Perm Sec has and I have. The amount of stress in the ministry is unbelievable. Many times we are in the office until 1 am, looking for ways , we want to push out money to make payment. Many people don’t know this.
”We now have a clinic so that people can go and check quickly up when they start having headache before someone collapses.
“I want to on behalf of myself and my High Blood Pressure colleagues say that I am happy commission this clinic. Minister of State, please forgive me for letting out the secret , you know how I talk- I am very open”.
Earlier, the Perm. Sec said, “It sounds unbelievable, the three of us are on medication, at times, we have to be in the office as late as 1 am looking for how the country will get money to finance her activities.
“With the clinic, before somebody collapses, if you have headache, you can go to the clinic, the clinic is certified by the Federal Ministry of Health”.
In a messagethe Head of Service, Mr Danladi Kifasi, commended the Federal Ministry of Finance for being one of the early ministries to heed Head of Service’s directive on the need for Ministries Department and Agencies to have clinic and creche on their premises.
Mr. Kifasi who was represented by Dr Tope Ajakaiye, a Director at Office of the Head of Service, admonished the Finance Ministry staff to make good use of the facilities stated that the Head of Service was highly elated that the fund used in establishing the two welfare facilities.(Vanguard)
