Commitment to federal strategy vital

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the first session of the newly reshuffled Cabinet on Sunday.

Shaikh Mohammad instructed ministers to engage junior leaders in planning and the decision-making process.

"We can face the challenge if we work hard and remain committed to the Federal Strategy, which we started implementing after being endorsed by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan," Shaikh Mohammad said.

He urged the ministers to find effective solutions to the problems facing them while developing their ministries.

"I don't want ministers to bring us their problems only, they should come up with valuable solutions," Shaikh Mohammad told the ministers.

He summarised the Cabinet's achievements over the past two years, at the top of which was the endorsement of the federal strategy and the construction of 40,000 housing units for Emiratis and doubling the allowances of scholarship students.

They also included increasing the salaries of government employees and retirees and social assistance given by the Ministry of Social Affairs to needy categories.

Giving ministers additional powers, approving the structures of the new ministries and the launch of the Young Leaders Programme were also among the Cabinet's achievements, Shaikh Mohammad added.

"Although these achievements were made in a short span of time, I demand you do more, exert all possible efforts and come up with creative ideas in the best interests of the nation, and for improving living, education, health and housing standards of UAE citizens," Shaikh Mohammad said.

" My Cabinet and I are responsible for progress and achievement before the President and our people.

"It is important that this government be productive, since that and progress are the only criteria to assess government performance by the President," Shaikh Mohammad said.

He noted that he would even effect a new reshuffle should any minister fail to discharge his duties.