The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar said on Monday that repositioning the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) was critical to achieving Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
Tuggar stated this in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a retreat organised by DTAC, with the theme: “Repositioning of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme in Achieving the Current Administration’s 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative”.
According to the minister, the current structure of DTAC is no longer in sync with the present realities of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and realities because the world is evolving.
”Let’s tell ourselves the truth, the way and manner DTAC has been structured is no longer in sync with the realities on ground.
”The world has changed, so also the priorities have changed, and that’s why we need to reposition the technical aid corps,” he said.
Tuggar, who described the technical aid corps as, ”perhaps the most effective foreign policy instrument,” added that the Tinubu administration’s 4-D initiative was to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy.
The 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative of the Tinubu administration includes Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.
While describing the choice of the theme of the retreat as apt, he expressed confidence in the ability of Dr. Yusuf Yakub, DTAC’s Director-General (DG) and former Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Foreign Relations to succeed in the task.
He noted that Yakub had experienced how laws were made in the legislature and how they impacted existing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, hence his starting with a review on DTAC was timely.
“He has the ability to see how the laws can be reviewed and be improved upon in order to position DTAC in a way that it can perform and deliver for Nigeria, the same way President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to deliver for Nigerians.
“Beginning from the eight-point agenda namely: Security; Ending Poverty; Economic Growth and Job Creation; Access to Capital; Improving Security; improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate; Rule of Law; and Fighting Corruption,’ the minister said.
Tuggar said in every ”D” of the 4-D agenda of the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy, there is a role for the technical aid corps, adding that DTAC was going to be central to achieving the nation’s foreign policy objectives
The minister also said that strengthening institutions, such as DTAC, would go a long way to strengthen democracy, stressing that ”without democracy, there will be no development.”
”So, when we say democracy we are looking at strengthening democratic institutions, not only in our region West Africa, but Africa as a whole and to support democracy worldwide.
”Because without democracy, there will be no development so, to strengthen these democratic institutions, you need the technical aid corps, so I will love to see the repositioning of DTAC.
”Where a lot of emphasis is laid on support for electoral commission within our region and beyond providing assistance, sharing our experiences through the way we have transformed,’’ he said.
Speaking earlier, DTAC DG, Yakub, said that the repositioning of DTAC was necessary following Mr President’s renewed hope agenda for Nigerians adding that, he hit the ground running to achieve the agenda when he assumed office.
He said that after he assumed office on Aug. 25, he began by setting the agenda for DTAC, which included long, middle and short terms.
The four-day retreat, which was held at DTAC’s headquarters, began on Oct. 9 and will end on Oct. 13
