The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MDAs

  • Fed Govt creates Labour desks in seven ministries

    Fed Govt creates Labour desks in seven ministries

    The Federal Government has approved the establishment of Labour desk offices at its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to minise industrial disputes.

    Such desks are to be established in MDAs with perennial industrial disputes.

    Labour and Productivity Minister Emeka Wogu spoke at a two-day workshop for newly appointed zonal directors of Labour and Resident Labour Desk Officers.

    He also said the government had approved the upgrading of the six zonal Labour offices across the country to directorates.

    The minister named the affected ministries as Health, Education, Petroleum Resources, Aviation, Power, Transport and Agriculture and Rural Development.

    According to him, the decision is aimed at ensuring harmonious industrial relations in the MDAs.

    Wogu said the move would also strengthen Labour administration in the zones.

    The minister hailed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for approving the desks.

    He noted that decentralising Labour administration was the ministry’s proactive measure to check incessant strikes.

    Wogu said the move would enable the Federal Government to attain the goals of its Transformation Agenda, especially in the Labour sector.

    The minister explained that the focus of his agenda was on policy development and programmes, which would reposition and strengthen the ministry in line with the government’s aspiration to achieve harmonious Labour relations.

    According to him, these are the panacea for national growth and development.

    Wogu said the ministry was changing its tacticks for handling industrial disputes in line with international best practices.

    The minister said there were increasing and sophisticated challenges which demanded a more developmental, pragmatic, decentralised, functional and democratic approach to labour administration in a globalised world.

    He said the new approach would reduce routine reports on Labour administration, which were usually forwarded to the headquarters.

     

     

    Wogu said: “The ministry will also be able to benefit from the Peer Review mechanism, which will be instituted among the state controllers, the zonal directors and labour-related institutions at the zonal levels.”

    The minister added that the transformation of labour administration was a collective responsibility of the government, workers and social partners.

    He assured that the ministry would create the enabling environment to further enhance performance and productivity.

    The Permanent Secretary Dr. Clement Illoh said decentralising labour administration would enable the ministry to easily resolve any Labour crisis that may arise.

     

  • Reps to MDAs: Submit 2014 mid-year budget implementation report

    Reps to MDAs: Submit 2014 mid-year budget implementation report

    In a bid to ensure the full implementation of the N4.695 trillion 2014 budget, the leadership of the House of Representatives has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit details of their mid-year budget implementation.

    To this end, all the Standing Committees have directed the MDAs under their watch to submit details of funds released by the Federal Ministry of Finance and Budget Office on or before July 16th in order to confirm the cash-backing for the implementation of capital, personnel and overheads components of the 2014 Appropriation Act.

    A breakdown of the of N4.695 trillion approved in the Act details that the sum of N408.687 billion was for statutory transfers; N712 billion was for debt servicing; N2.454 trillion was for recurrent expenditure while N1.119 trillion was earmarked for capital expenditure.

    One of such letters was written by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Ndudi Elumelu, requesting for details of the funds released for implementation of capital, personnel and overheads components of the budget so far.

    The letter titled “Request for information on releases of funds from Federal Ministry of Finance from 1st January to 30th June 2014” and dated 30th June 2014, was addressed to the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu.

    Elumelu, in the letter, also directed the Minister to provide evidence on details of expenditure of Federal Ministry of Health and various departments and agencies including Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) for the period under review on or before  July 16.

    The non/slow implementation of annual budgets has been a source of contention between the House of Representatives and the executive with the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal promising a more intense oversight on MDAs by the committees of the House.

    A  member of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Abdulrahman Terab, confirmed the substance of the correspondence adding that the House has concluded arrangement to ascertain the level of compliance with the 2014 Appropriation Act.

  • 1,000 Lagos civil servants begin pre-retirement training

    1,000 Lagos civil servants begin pre-retirement training

    OVER 1,000 officers across various Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) under the employ of the Lagos State Government yesterday commenced pre-retirement training in the state.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, said the training was geared towards addressing the challenges faced by most retiring officers, who are often vulnerable in retirement.

    Oguntuase said certain parameters would be used at the training to expose the retiring officers to several opportunities and avenues available for them after retirement.

    She said the training would also give attention to both the practical aspects such as skills acquisition and also the theoretical aspects, which has been summarised into readable study manuals for future references.

    The commissioner said, “Past experiences have shown that participants who have undergone this pre-retirement workshop are usually exposed to theory which often fades away as time goes by, but the peculiarities of this workshop is that both the practical and the theory aspects will be given equal attention.”

    The commissioner said one area to be covered in the manual would be the contributory pension scheme, advising the participants to study it carefully so as to know the necessary documentation.

    “You would be exposed to the basic rudiments of how to maintain cash book and start a small scale business. You will also learn about how to access funds from financial institutions that will be around to exhibit their products and offer professional advice.”

    Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pension office, Mrs. Folashade Adesoye, in her address said it has been observed that many public servants do not plan adequately for life after retirement.

    Speaking on the benefits of the training, Adesoye said, “The training was designed to equip participants with relevant knowledge, skills and exposure on how to manage their life after retirement.”

     

  • CBN asks MDAs to deploy e-channels in remittances

    CBN asks MDAs to deploy e-channels in remittances

    THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt e-payment channels for their transactions.

    Salaries, pensions and suppliers and taxes are to be paid using the electronic channels.

    The policy applies to organisations with over 50 employees.

    In a circular, the apex bank said the process would reduce time and transaction costs, minimise leakages in government revenue receipts, provide reliable audit sytems, and make it comply with global payment standards.

    The policy is also expected to ensure confidentiality of transactions.

    CBN said, henceforth, payment instructions and associated schedules are no longer to be transmitted to banks by organisations in the public and private sectors through unsecured channels, such as paper-based mandates, flash drives, compact discs, and email attachments.

    The transactions, the bank said, must be routed through bank approved electronic platforms, which transmits the instruction to debit a payer’s account and credit that of a a beneficiary, mobile account, electronic wallet or other electronic channels.

    It will include the ability of a payer to monitor and obtain electronic feedback on the status of any payment, without depending on any third party, manual or semi-manual means.

    Draft guidelines that will ratify the policy have been sent to commercial banks and payment service providers. The exercise is in line with the CBN Act, 2007, Section 47, Sub Section 2(2d).

    It said the policy aligns with the National Payment Systems Vision 2020 (NPSV), which is aimed at ensuring the availability of safe and effective mechanisms for making and receiving various payments from any location and at any time.

    The CBN said all public and private sector organisations, which  relates with employees, pensioners, suppliers, taxpayers and others are considered as stakeholders required working for the success of the policy.

  • Ajimobi visits offices

    Ajimobi visits offices

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi paid a surprise visit yesterday to some Ministries, Departments and Parastatals (MDAs).

    He said such visits would be carried out weekly to ensure punctuality and efficiency in the civil service.

    The governor said the monitoring, which caught many workers unawares, would take place between 7:30 and 8am weekly, adding: “Some civil servants came late and some came early. I have decided that on a weekly basis, I will pay surprise visits to ministries between 7:30 and 8am. When they see us coming regularly, they will adjust.”

    Expressing satisfaction with the improvement in the civil service, he said his administration would continue to provide a conducive environment for workers, adding that the secretariat would be renovated.

    The governor visited the Civil Service Commission, Ministries of Health, Trade and Investment, Establishment and Training, Industry, Applied Science and Technology and Agriculture.

    He also visited the Transport Pool, where he ordered the disposal of rickety and abandoned vehicles on the premises.

  • COREN to MDAs: ‘Don’t patronise quacks’

    The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has urged ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to desist from using engineers that are not registered with the council.

    The Chairman, Investigation Panel, COREN, Engr. Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola gave this charge during the investigation proceedings of case of forged certificate preferred against some companies alleged to have doctored NSE certificate in the quest for COREN registration.

    To forestall the menace f forgery, COREN, he said: “Is working with MDAs on giving jobs to companies that are registered with the council. COREN will use the legal system to fight any MDAs who deliberately give jobs to unregistered companies.

    “We invite the public to send complains to COREN if the find that there is any incompetence in the way engineers run their business. After the investigation by the panel, the case is directed to the tribunal,” he stressed.

  • Fayemi assures workers of improved package

    Fayemi assures workers of improved package

    •’We’re on a collective rescue mission’

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has assured workers of improved welfare.

    He spoke yesterday during unscheduled visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the State Secretariat and the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Fayemi said workers contributed to the state’s growth last year and deserve the best working conditions in the new year.

    Describing workers as “the engine room of the government”, he said his visit was to thank them for their hard work and encourage them to do more.

    The governor shook hands with the workers and carried the babies of some, who were about taking their children to the creche at the Secretariat.

    He was accompanied by the Head of Service, Bunmi Famosaya; the Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Biodun Akin-Fasae; and the Senior Special Assistant on Policy and Strategy, Biodun Omoleye.

    Fayemi said: “This is the first full week of the year, even though work started last Thursday. Generally speaking, most people will not get back to work until the first full week of the year. So the visit is my way of thanking our workers for their hard work and admonishing them to contribute more to the state this year.

    “We are on a collective rescue mission and the governor alone, no matter the weight of his office, cannot make a change. He needs the support of all workers, both at the state and local government levels, so that the developmental changes we want can be made.”

    He said the visit gave him an opportunity to assess the working conditions of workers, adding that uncompleted buildings abandoned by his predecessor at the secretariat would be completed this year to provide adequate office space for workers.

    Fayemi said the secretariat would be fenced to enhance security and assured workers of prompt salary payment.

    Famosaya thanked Fayemi for making workers’ welfare a priority.

  • Lagos gets eight permanent secretaries

    The Lagos State government has appointed four permanent secretaries and four tutors-general.

    The permanent secretaries are Mr. Olujimi Hotonu; Mrs. Oluwatoyin Onikoyi; Mrs. Jokotola Ojosipe-Ogundimu and Mr. Michael Dawodu.

    The tutors-general are Mrs. Florence Ogunfidodo; Mr. Yinka Olaniyi; Mrs. Margaret Solarin and Dr. Olukayode Oguntimehin.

    This brings the number of permanent secretaries in the state’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to 54.

    Swearing in the new appointees at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola urged them to be of good conduct.

    He said they were appointed on merit after passing examinations and interviews, adding: “Interestingly, their performance addressed the gender issue. We have four women and four men. I am sure our women can compete. This process has demonstrated that.”

    Speaking for the appointees, Oguntimehin assured the governor that they would discharge their responsibilities effectively.

    The event was witnessed by many dignitaries, including a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade.

  • MDAs stall passage of Lagos 2014 bill

    The passage of the Lagos State 2014 budget was stalled yesterday on the floor of the House of Assembly by the failure of 10 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide the Committee on Budget and Appropriation with required documents.

    The MDAs are Eko Project, Lagos State Building and Construction Agency (LABCA), Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Metropolitan Development Agency (LMDA), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lottery Board.

    Majority of the lawmakers condemned the MDAs’ attitude.

    The Chief Whip, Abdulrazaq Balogun, said the MDAss “deliberately refused” to supply the necessary documents and should be compelled to do so.

    The Deputy Whip, Rotimi Abiru, said the House cannot go on recess without passing the budget, insisting that the documents would have to be submitted.

    Mr. Ipoola Omisore (Ifako-Ijaiye II) said: “It is the desire of the House to pass the money bill before the end of the year. It is not right for any MDA to hold us back.”

    The House, led by the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, ordered the MDAs to present the documents to the committee on Thursday, January 2.

  • SGF wants N200m to monetise residence and office accommodation for Diya

    The Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) wants to provide “monetised residential/office accommodation for the former Chief of General Staff General Oladipo Diya” at the sum of N200 million.

    This is contained in the 2014 budget details in possession of The Nation. In the new year, the OSGF is demanding for N1,161,356,582 for the supply and installation of under-vehicle inspection system, bollards, hand-held explosive detectors and bomb inhibitors at selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja.

    The office of the SGF also wants N50,073,420 to purchase “gymnasium equipment (bicycle, ego treadmill and set of weights.)

    However, a sum of N70 million is being demanded to furnish the vice president’s guest house in Asokoro District, while N12 million will be used to furnish the newly constructed service quarters for State House Medical Centre at N2 million for six properties.

    In addition, N67 million is to be expended as balance payment for the purchase of one sewage truck for the presidency, and N5 million is to be spent to purchase gardening equipment for the State House.

    The Presidency also plans to spend N76,375,000 to purchase service equipment (crested cutlery, flatware and glassware).

    On its part, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) is demanding for N1.09 billion to be spent as privatisation transaction expenses, while the Border Communities Development Agency is asking for N25 million for the construction of two boreholes with 500 litres elevated steel tanks and reticulation (water distribution) in Katsina and Kebbi States.