The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Departments

  • FG to revamp SERVICOM for efficient service delivery – SGF

    FG to revamp SERVICOM for efficient service delivery – SGF

    The Federal Government on Monday expressed its commitment to revamp the Service Compact (SERVICOM) agency to ensure effective and efficient public service delivery in the country.

    Mr Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) made this known in Abuja at the National Policy Dialogue on Strategies for Improving Service Delivery in Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Commissions.

    The event which was tagged: “Efficient and Effective Service Delivery: Imperative for Driving the Change Agenda’’ was organised by SERVICOM to brainstorm on ways to boost citizen focused service delivery.

    SERVICOM is an acronym derived from the words SERVICE COMPACT, an initiative of the Federal Government developed out of the consensus emerging from a Special Presidential Retreat on Service Delivery.

    It is an agreement between the Federal Government and the citizens to guide and sustain the drive for improved service delivery by ensuring that MDAs are more citizen-focused in their operations.

    According to Lawal, the revamping of the agency will mark a significant step in government’s effort to enhance and sustain the culture of effective service delivery in all government establishments, to serve the people better.

    He said that the dialogue was timely as the existence of SERVICOM initiative would be appraised and frameworks developed to improve public service delivery.

    “The importance of our gathering today is to reflect on Nigeria’s public service delivery journey in the past 12 years of the SERVICOM Initiative, appraise the gains and setbacks.

    “Also to develop a framework that will translate governments’ efforts into to tangible improvements in public service delivery.

    “Therefore, I urge you to kindly embrace Government’s reaffirmation of the ideals of SERVICOM, by developing a holistic framework to facilitate the anticipated improvements in performance by MDAs as a precursor for better service delivery,’’he said.

    He noted that improving service delivery was part of the change agenda of the present administration, adding that it would enhance government’s connection with the citizenry.

    The SGF said there was need to sensitise citizens on their rights to demand high quality services; and articulate new pathways for gaining more efficiency in service delivery.

    He noted that this could be done through a review of Global best practices in governance and periodic evaluation of the quality of services delivered to citizens.

    Earlier, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, Acting National Coordinator, SERVICOM said that a citizen centred approach in service delivery would be adopted in reviving the agency.

    She added that the redesigning the internal processes of government agencies was imperative to achieving the set goal.

    Akajemeli also said that to ensure the change agenda of the present administration public servants should see themselves as servants of the citizenry and not masters.

    “Public Service in this democratic dispensation comes with legitimate expectations of the populace and the meeting of such needs and expectations is the fundamental objective of this administration.

    “ In order to achieve this there must be re-orientation of government institutions to optimise access to their sectors by all citizens.

    “There must be shift in public service culture orientating public servants to view themselves as servants of citizenry rather than masters as government recognises the need to deliver high quality efficient service delivery at reduced cost’’, she said.

    Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head Civil Service of the Federation, said that before the establishment of SERVICOM Nigerians were surcharged in the service delivered to them.

    She added that Nigerians deserve better service delivery, saying that the present administration is committed to revamping of SERVICOM.

    She noted that the dialogue was timely, when focus was on enhancing effective and efficient service delivery to all Nigerians which was critical to the change agenda.

  • Poly gets new faculties, departments

    The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) in Niger State has created three new faculties and seven departments to add to the existing ones. This was contained in a memo signed by the Deputy Registrar for Establishments, Mr Stephen Isha.

    The memo also stated that the management reshuffled leadership of some departments and faculties to improve staff performance.

    The newly created faculties are General Studies, Basic and Financial Studies, and Communication Technology. The new departments are Biological Science, Physics, Basic Studies, Languages, Legal Studies, Social Sciences and Chemical Sciences.

    According to the memo, the Faculty of Applied Art and Natural Science is now to be called School of Applied and Natural Science, while the Department of Computer Science is to be called Department of Computer Studies.

    Also, Accountancy and Banking and Finance were moved to the Faculty of Financial Studies, while Departments of Computer Studies, Mass Communication and Office Technology Management were moved from the Faculty of Applied and Natural Science to the Faculty of Information and Technology.

  • ‘Kogi lost N213 billion to ghost workers’

    ‘Kogi lost N213 billion to ghost workers’

    Kogi State Auditor-General, Mr Okala Yusuf, has said that the state government lost N213 billion to 18, 211 ghost workers in the last 13 years,

    He made the disclosure on Monday in Lokoja the state capital while presenting the report of the just concluded screening and verification exercise of the state workers carried out by the government.

    He said that the ghost workers were discovered in Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and in the 21 local government councils in the state.

    He said that 7, 606 were discovered in the councils, 5,872 at the state level, while pensioners accounted for 1,040 of the ghost workers.

    The AG said the exercise had reduced the joint workforce of the state and local governments from 88, 973 to 63, 870.

    He added that the monthly wage bill had also been reduced from N5.8 billion to N4.6 billion.

    Yusuf said that the 929 workers who were illegally employed in the state in 2015 and 2016 were also among those categorised as ghost workers.

    He said that some workers categorised as being in the Diaspora, who had been collecting their salaries for years while residing in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and other cities across the country were also affected.

    He said that the committee relied on employees’ biodata verification form and the Nigeria inter-bank payment settlement system to identify the ghost workers.

    He accused some “vested interest” of muddling the report of the screening committee by omitting the names of 14, 147 genuine workers and replacing them with the names of unknown staff.

    Yusuf, who served as chairman of the back up committee that reviewed the report of the screening committee, suggested the adoption of the integrated and automation payroll system to curb leakages.

    The AG suggested the establishment of pre-disbursement audit unit before payment of salaries.

    He said that all those who abetted or aided fraud in the workforce of the state and local governments should be identified and made to face the consequences of their actions.

    Speaking after the presentation of the report, Governor Yahaya Bello said that the discovery had justified the good intention of the government to embark on the screening and verification.

    He inaugurated a 15-member committee to review the report, saying that anybody with genuine complaint should channel it through the committee.

    He promised to correct lopsidedness in the state civil service and block leakages.

    He added: “Less than two per cent of the population should not be allowed to continue to corner the resources meant for 3.4 million people.

    “This is unsustainable; the choice we have is to either reform the service or continue with the distortions in the socio-economic life of our people“.

    He accused previous administrations in the state of abandoning governance, saying that his administration was determined to carry out comprehensive reforms of the civil service.

    “This is a way of saying that we are not ready to continue with the past and put permanent stop to the syndrome of ghost workers,” he said.

    While reiterating the determination of his administration to adhere strictly to the principles of transparency and accountability, Bello said that government would endeavour to enhance the capacity of the successful workers.

     

  • Highlights of allocations to departments, agencies

    Highlights of allocations to departments, agencies

    A breakdown of the N6.060 trillion Budget showed that consideration was given to certain critical sectors, like Job Creation, Payment to local contractors, the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company, the Sinking Fund, as well as provision for Debt Servicing, among several others. Report SIMEON EBULU and TAOFEEK SALAKO

    YESTERDAY’S approval of the N6.077 trillion Appropriation Bill by the Senate and the House of Representatives laid to rest controversies over the 2016 estimates proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari to the federal lawmakers of consideration.

    The National Assembly sliced the N6.08 trillion Budget of Change sent by the Presidency by N17 billion.

    Below are some of the highlights of the budget as approved for the President’s signature:

    Payment of local  contractors’ debts

    The debts owed local contractors have continued to grow and have remained a source of concern to the government. At the federal and states level, about N11.2 trillion has been certified as the cumulative debts against the Federal Government and states. Of this amount, N400 billion is owed to contractors.

    However, from the budgeted provisions, the Federal Government has set aside N25.5 billion to draw down the debt overhang. As indicated in the budget, the amount is dedicated for the payment of local contractors’ debts/other liabilities.

    Refund to states for federal road projects

    Under this sub-head, more than N5 billion has been earmarked, or set aside as Capital Supplementation under Refunds to States for Federal Road Projects. Given that some states have laid claims to spending several billions of naira in fixing federal roads, the amount is a far cry from what is desired and it may fall short of satisfying the yearnings of the affected states.

    Nuclear programme financing

    The nation’s nuclear programme is considered important in many respects. It serves an input in treatment for cancer patients, and as well serves as a power, or energy source when fully developed. The budget under review has set aside N2 billion for the sector’s activity in the current fiscal year.

    The document indicated that the vote is for the financing of the implementation of the nation’s Nuclear Power Programme.  This is a critical area that requires more attention, given the gap that exists between the projected power generation and what obtains at the moment.

    The President is calling for 10,000 megawatts in a few years, but the country generates a range of between 2,000 megawatts and 4,000 megawatts at the moment.

    Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company  (NMRC)

    This is an important entity as far as providing affordable houses is concerned. The N2 billion provision would be seen by many as inadequate.

    The essence of the NMRC is to provide funding on a revolving arrangement to property developers under a mortgage refinancing arrangement.

    Special intervention /constituency projects

    This sub-head has a N100 billion provision. The purpose for it is is set out under Capital Supplementation and under Special Intervention/Constituency Projects. Some of these projects come under the purview of senators and House of Representatives members. They are located within the respective legislators’ constituencies. Although a N100 billion vote seems inadequate in the interim, it would suffice in the long-run, given that consideration may have been given to other projects to be cited in the communities as dictated by both by the federal and state governments.

    The sum of N2 billion is available for this scheme under Capital Supplementation. This is obviously outside the various jobs that would be created across board from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as from the private sector, from which, huge financial commitments have been made.

    Sinking Fund for Infrastructural Development

    Some N10 billion has been set aside for the above purpose. It will represent the federal government’s contribution to the fund, essentially meant for developing and improving infrastructure. Every Nigerian agrees on the need to focus on this area.

    Special Initiative for Women

    The N1.5 billion under this sub-head will encourage women participation in agriculture, sports, communications and women development centres at the grassroots, among others. This provision is both gender and sector-specific.

    Debt Servicing

    The provision of a princely N1.307 trillion for this purpose underscore the level of indebtedness, or debt overhang of the Federal Government to creditors. Precisely, one trillion, three hundred and seven billion, and four hundred million naira is the total amount reserved for debt service.

  • Taxation of contract and direct labour procurement of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in Nigeria. (1)

    The Nigerian Tax Laws have provisions for the
    Taxation of contract Expenditure including
    those of Government, Ministry, Department and Agencies. The withholding tax (WHT) provision was introduced into the tax system in 1997 with limited coverage to rent, dividends and directors fees. Tax deduction at source has since been expanded to include:
    – All aspects of building, construction and related services.
    – All types of contract and agency arrangement, other than outright sale and purchase of goods and property in the ordinary course of business.
    – Consultancy, technical and professional services.
    – Management services.
    – Commissions
    – Interest and Royalty.
    The introduction of WHT regime came about in order to address the problem of tax evasion although, there is the overriding objective of full disclosure, transparency, predictability and fairness.
    Despite the huge Tax Revenue from award of contract and related source deductions, there is a growing interest in the usage of direct labour system in project procurement in Nigeria especially in the public sector. Direct Labour system is one of the several options of procurement used for project delivery process. This type of system is regarded as in-house because procuring entity, as different from contractor’s staff carry out the project delivery process and activities. One of the reasons for the preference for direct labour procurement is the Tax effect. Government Ministries, Department and Agency consume the services of contractors and hence are to be charged VAT by contractors who execute contract for them.
    This paper is intended to highlight how Government Expenditures are taxed in Nigeria and the extent to which direct labour procurement can be a Tax evasion scheme. This paper will not in any way address Tax issues relating to Corporate and Individual Expenditures.

    THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT 2007 AND AWARD OF CONTRACT

    By the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the following should be noted about award of contract and Public Procurement:-
    i. Procuring Entities should outsource those services that are either not part of their core business activity or for which there is a fluctuating requirement in terms of specialist skills or Equipment, or where the open market provides a more efficient and commercial alternative.
    ii. The approval and maintenance of monetary and prior review thresholds is important for the faithful implementation of the PPA. The thresholds establish relevant approving authorities and methodologies. “Monetary Thresholds” is defined in the interpretative section of the Act to mean the value limit in Naira set by the Bureau outside of which an approving authority may not award a procurement contract.
    iii. Procurement to be executed:-
    a. by open competitive bidding, except as otherwise exempted;
    b. In a manner which is transparent, timely, and equitable for ensuring accountability and conformity with the Public Procurement Act and regulations deriving therefrom;
    c. With the aim of achieving value for money and fitness for purpose;
    d. In a manner which promotes competition, economy and efficiency; and
    e. In accordance with the laid down procedures and timelines.
    iv. Where the Bureau has set prior review thresholds, no funds shall be disbursed from the Treasury/federation Account/ or any bank account of any procuring entity for any procurement falling above the set thresholds unless the cheque, warrant or other form of request for payment is accompanied by a “Certificate of ‘No Objection’ to Award of Contract” duly issued by the Bureau.
    v. Subject to the monetary and prior review thresholds for procurements, the Parastatal Tenders’ Board of a government agency, Parastatal, or corporation or in the case of a ministry or extra-ministerial entity, the Ministerial Tenders’ Board shall be the Approving Authority for the conduct of public procurement.
    vi. The following procedure shall be observed by ministries, extra ministerial offices, and other arms of government in implementing their procurement plans, viz;
    a. Advertise and solicit for bids in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Bureau from time to time;
    b. Invite two (2) credible persons as observers in every procurement process, one from a private sector professional organization relevant to the procurement and the other from non-government organization working in transparency, accountability and/or anti-corruption areas;
    c. Receive, evaluate and make a selection of the bids in accordance with prescribed guidelines;
    d. Obtain the approval of the tenders board for the award of contract to successful bidder.
    e. Obtain “certificate of ‘No objection’ to award contract” from the Bureau where contract is outside the threshold.
    vii.All bidders in addition to requirements contained in any solicitation documents shall:
    a.Possess the necessary:
    -Professional and technical qualifications to carry out particular procurement
    -Financial capability;
    -Equipment and other relevant infrastructure;
    -Shall have adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.
    b. Possess the legal capacity to enter into the procurement contract
    c. Not be in receivership, the subject of any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings
    d. Must have fulfilled all its obligations to pay taxes, pensions and social security contributions.
    viii. Procurement Approval Threshold (2012)

    ix. Reduction or Contract splitting is an offence in the Public Procurement Act.

    x. The Accounting Officer of every procuring entity shall be the person charged with the line supervision of the conduct of all procurement process; in the case of Ministries, the Permanent Secretary and in the case of Extra Ministerial Departments and Corporations, the Director General or Officer of Coordinate responsibility.

    xi. Procurement by Accounting Officers must be on the basis of approved quotation or Tender. Selection must be made from at least three quotations.

    xii. Section 19 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 specifies conditions for “Force Account” i.e Direct Labour, which should be executed within three months, to include

    -The procuring entity has ascertained that a schedule of rates, cost – plus or target contract would not be feasible, as quantities of work to be carried out cannot be defined in advance;

    -Works are small and scattered or in remote locations with no local contractors and demobilization costs for outside contractors would be too high;

    -Works must be carried out without disrupting existing operations;

    -The risk of unavailable work interruptions is better borne by procuring entity than by a contractor;

    -No contractor is interested in conducting the work at a reasonable price;

    -It has been demonstrated that Force Account (Direct Labour) is the only practical method for constructing and maintaining works under special circumstances; or

    -Where national security would be compromised if any other method was used.

     

  • ‘We pay N3b monthly pensions to pension departments’

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has been paying about N3 billion as monthly pension to each segment of pensioners under the old pension scheme of Pay As You Earn (PAYE), the Director-General of the Directorate, Ms Nelie Meshack, has said.

    Speaking in Abuja on the total amount paid by PTAD since its inception in August last year, she said the directorate has been diligent in the discharge of its duties.

    The segments to be managed by the Directorate are the Police Pension Department; the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department; the Civil Service Pension Department; and the Treasury Funded Parastatals Pension Department.

    PTAD is already managing and paying monthly pensions of the Nigeria Police Force, Customs and Immigration and Prisons and recently adopted the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) pensioners categorised under the Civil Service Pension Department.

    Meshack however said the Directorate cannot ascertain the total liabilities of pensioners under the old scheme as a result of lack of database for the pensioners in the country.

    She said not all the pensioners have been consolidated under PTAD, noting that this is why the directorate is embarking on a nationwide verification exercise soon.

    This, she said, will enable the directorate to know the total number of genuine pensioners and sieve out ghost pensioners under the system.

    She further said the pensioners are presently scattered across the country and it is part of its mandate to put them under a strong database.

    She said: “We cannot fully ascertain the total liabilities of pensioners under the old scheme and that is why we will soon embark on a nationwide verification exercise to verify genuine and fake pensioners.

    “We have not done the total of the few ones that we have on our list now but on a monthly basis depending on a certain segment of pensioners, we pay about N3 billion monthly.”

    Speaking on the Directorate’s mandate, she said: “Our mandate is to make budgetary estimates for existing pensioners and officers exempted from this scheme under Section 5 (1)(b) of this Act, prepare and submit the monthly payroll of pensioners to the office of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for direct payment from the budgetary allocation maintained with the CBN’s bank accounts; issue payment instructions to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation; maintain a comprehensive database of pensioners under their respective jurisdiction.

    “Others include ascertaining deficits in pension payments if any to existing pensioners or the categories of officers exempted under section 5 (1)(b) of this Act, and carry out such other functions aimed at ensuring the welfare of pensioners and render monthly returns on pensioners, deceased pensioners, details of NOK of deceased pensioners and on any other issue as may be required from time to time.”

  • Departments mark week

    Departments mark week

    Students of the Department of Psychology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), have held their annual week.  The opening day was the back-to-school programme, where students wore different attires to participate in the match – past and dance parade round their faculty.

    It was fun as the crowd gathered to watch their colleagues display different skills.  The programme tagged, The past is key to the present, was eventful as students exhibited the characters of early students who were trained by the whites during the colonial era.

    A student told CAMPUSLIFE: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, they say. After stressful academic weeks, students, one should socialise and relieve the body of stress in order to prepare better for exams.  We have been having great fun.’’

    The students of Department of Public Administration and Local Government also held their departmental week.   The first day of the programme started with rag day, where students were decked in different attires.  The following day was the cultural day, where students displayed the best of Igbo culture and tradition.

    A student, Mathias Onyemechi Igwe, 300-Level Public Administration, said: “It is a welcome development because it will help the younger generations to appreciate the culture of Igbos and makes it stronger.”