COTONOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The 25 members of the first government formed by Beninese President Romuald Wadagni on Thursday outlined their priorities for implementing the government's action program over the next seven years.
Shortly before 9:00 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital, members of the new government arrived at the presidential palace, where the first cabinet meeting was scheduled to take place.
Rodrigue Chaou, minister-delegate to the minister of economy and finance in charge of budget and public service, said his priorities would focus on deploying the Integrated Human Resources and Payroll Management System, improving coordination between the National Social Security Fund and the National Pensioners Fund of Benin for pension payments, and implementing a unified pension payment system.
"To achieve these objectives, we will promote a dynamic of modernization, particularly within the public service, in line with results-based management principles," he said.
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Adin Yeton Bloukounon Goubalan said his priorities included water control to strengthen agricultural production, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence as a decision-making support tool.
"From now on, we will use geospatial data, meteorological data and field data integrated into artificial intelligence systems to provide advice to farmers," he explained.
Djibril Mama Cisse Moussa, minister-delegate to the president in charge of interior and public security, and Gildas Agonkan, minister-delegate to the president in charge of national defense, said that their priorities would center on strengthening domestic security and combating terrorism affecting the northern part of the country.
On May 24, Wadagni signed a decree announcing the composition of the new government, which comprises 19 ministers and five ministers-delegate.
In another decree issued Tuesday, Wadagni appointed Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji as government spokesperson, bringing the total number of ministerial portfolios to 25. ■