The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MDAs

  • Commission boss urges MDAs to respect Federal Character principle

    FEDERAL Character Commission (FCC) Acting Chairman Abayomi Sheba has expressed the commission’s readiness to implement compliance with the Federal Character principle in the staffing and recruitment of state-owned parastatals across the country.

    Sheba, a former member of the House of Representatives, whose own appointment has corrected alleged lopsidedness in FCC’s structure, said in Abuja yesterday that the commission would henceforth view non-compliance with the deserved seriousness and accompanied with appropriate sanctions.

    The FCC is the body saddled with the responsibility of ensuring equal representation of all segments of the federation in the staff list of state parastatals and prevent lopsided appointments by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government at all levels.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the FCC frowned at the practice of some government agencies bypassing the required inputs needed from the commission, thereby subverting the principle of federal character in their appointments.

  • PenCom begins verification of 2,700 retiring FG employees

    The National Pension Commission ( PenCom ) on Monday commenced the verification and enrollment of over 2,700 employees of the Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from the Federal Capital Territory and Niger state that are treasury funded.

    The Head, Corporate Communications, PenCom, Peter Aghahowa, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    He said the process, which is for payment purposes of retirement benefits, also applies to those who have retired but are not enrolled.

    The statement reads: “The exercise is meant for employees in the service of the Federal Government who are due to retire between January and December, 2019 by virtue of attaining 60 years of age or 35 years in service whichever is earlier or 65 years by age for employees of tertiary institutions or 70 years of age for Professors.

    “Employees are requested to attend the enrolment exercise with the originals and copies of letter of appointment, evidence of transfer of Service & acceptance where applicable, birth certificate/declaration of age, promotion letter and pay slip indicating grade level and step as at June, 2004, promotion letter and pay slip indicating grade level and step as at January, 2007, promotion letter and pay slip indicating grade level and step as at July, 2010, promotion letter and pay slip indicating grade level and step as at December, 2013.

    “Other requirements for the enrolment exercise include letter of introduction from the MDAs, staff identity card, letter/evidence of retirement where applicable, letter of indemnity from the MDA.

    Read Also: Pencom begins verification exercise

    “The prospective retirees according to the statement are also requested to come with evidence of registration with a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) indicating Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) Personal Identification Number (PIN).

    “To ensure a successful and hitch-free exercise, the Commission requires the presence of at least, one Pension Desk Officer (PDO) from each MDA in order to assist in identifying potential retirees as well as confirm the authenticity of the documents presented by the employees.

    “Potential retirees who are medically unfit are exempted from the exercise but the Commission advises their Pension Desk Officers to come with their documents and a letter from a suitably qualified physician or medical board certifying that the affected employees are not physically or mentally capable of carrying out the functions of his/her office or attend the verification exercise.”

    The Commission advised all the prospective retirees of the government to take part in the exercise as it is a precondition for the payment of their retirement benefits.

    The exercise is part of the phase two of the nationwide programme which also ongoing in two other centers in Lagos and Ibadan. Phase one had already been concluded in 12 other centers across the nation.

    The exercise in Abuja is taking place between July 30, and August17, 2018.

  • Buhari approves new appointments for MDAs, INEC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of chief executive officers of agencies in the Federal Ministries of Health, Information and Culture, Education, Power, Works and Housing.

    Others include Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a statement by the Director Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Lawrence Ojabo, the President urged the appointees to reinvigorate the agencies in the delivery of their mandates through a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability and service delivery with integrity.

    The appointments at the Federal Ministry of Health include Dr. Abdulkareem Yusuf as  medical director of  Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital  Kaduna State.

    The appointment is for an initial term of four years with effect from April 8.

    Dr. Abubakar Musa’s appointment was renewed for four years with effect from July 3, 2017 as the  medical director of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe  State.

    Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim’s appointment was also renewed for four years with effect from April 2, as the medical director of the  Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Bauchi State.

    For the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Bauchi State, Dr. Nasir Umar’s appointment as medical director was renewed for four years. It takes effect from April 8.

    Dr. Iliasu Ahmed was appointed as the  Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, for initial term of four years with effect from April 8.

    Dr. Aliyu El-Ladan got another four years as the Medical Director of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Katsina State. It takes effect from April 8.

    For the Ministry of Information and Culture, the President appointed Dr. Stella Oyedepo as the General Manager of National Theatre, Lagos, for an interim four years with effect from April 8.

    With the appointment, the President  has separated the leadership of the National Theatre from that of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

    Also, Dr. Baba Danjuma was appointed Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, for initial term of four years with effect from December 27, 2017.

    Dr. Usman Kallamu is Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, for initial four years with effect from April 8. Dr. Jimah Sanusi is Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, for four years. It takes effect from February 23.

    The President also appointed Dr. Dayo Oladebeye as Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti for an initial term of four years with effect from February 23. Sanusi Gumau is the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi for initial four years from February 23.

    Prof. Tomunomi Abbey is Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oil and Gas Bonny, Rivers State.

    Omokungbe Omoseni was appointed as the Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State and Prof. Faruk Haruna is Provost of the Federal College or Education Kotangora, Niger State, for initial four years with effect from March 27.

    For the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the President approved the appointment of Usman Mohammed as the managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria for initial term of four years with effect from February 1.

    Buhari also appointed Dr. Emmanuel Alex Hart,  Mohammed Magaji Ibrahim, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, Dr. Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidaba, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Baba Abba Yusuf  and Yahaya Bello as Resident Electoral Commissioners for initial term of five years with effect from April 17, 2018.

    The statement revealed that the new Resident Electoral Commissioners would be inaugurated on Tuesday by the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at the INEC Headquarters.

     

     

     

     

  • The Nation special publication on MDAs

    The Nation Special Publication on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) scheduled for Monday, March 12, 2018 has been rescheduled for Monday, March 26, 2018.

    The shift in date was due to increased interest by MDAs.

    All enquiries for participation should be directed to:

    Simeon Ebulu

    The Group Business Editor

    The Nation

    Tel: 08023254106

    Email: simsebulu@yahoo.com

     

  • Senate threatens to pass 2018 budget without MDAs’ inputs

    Senate threatens to pass 2018 budget without MDAs’ inputs

    The Senate on Wednesday threatened to pass the 2018 budget without submissions from recalcitrant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    This threat followed the observation by the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Sunny Ogbuoji.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had asked Ogbuoji to tell the Senate the position of the 2018 Appropriation Bill whose implementation should have started on January 1.

    Ogbuoji informed the Senate that majority of MDAs refused to turn up for their budget defence as required by law.

    He noted that due to the failure of the MDAs to appear for budget defence, the budget report that could have been presented for consideration was not ready.

    He said: “Majority of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are not coming forward to interface with the standing committees. Some of the ministers will tell you they have a team, they are going outside the country and because of that the MDAs are not fully ready.

    “So we don’t have the reports yet. We believe that when the MDAs come forward, our colleagues will be able to finish their work.

    “Some of the committees are unable to do their work. When the committees screened what they brought, they will ask them to go back to us but they don’t come back.

    ‘That is really delaying the work for majority of the standing committees and that is why up till today, we don’t have a comprehensive report on the budget.”

    Saraki, who expressed disappointment with the attitude of the MDAs, said the Senate was prepared to conclude work on the 2018 Appropriation Bill to ensure its passage.

     

     

  • MDAs to implement ‘no cash payment’

    Lagos  State Accountant General/ Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office, Mrs Abimbola Umar, has directed ministries departments and agencies (MDA) start implementing the ‘’no cash payment’’ policy.

    She spoke at a forum to sensitise directors of finance and accounts (DFA) across the state on the new payment regime at the seat of power in Alausa, Ikeja.

    She said the abolition would plug  loopholes in revenue generation and eliminate incidences of loss of government revenue.

    “The governor’s directive will ensure all revenue collections go through the government designated banks and multi-payment channels such as web-pay, pay-point, USSD and the conventional online payments”.

    Umar said no MDA was exempted under the scheme.

    “All cash payments for revenue collection should be stopped henceforth,” she said.

    According to her, the move will strengthen ease of doing business in the state especially in the area of transaction with the government, and also prevent fraudulent transactions.

    She urged accountants to begin to sensitise  tax payers on the ‘‘No Cash Payment’’ policy and the various payment channels available.

  • ‘MDAs’ IT security projects largely compromised’

    The Management of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has lamented that 95 per cent of the information technology (IT) security projects in Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are compromised.

    It however said it has taken measures to arrest the development.

    Its Director-General, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami said part of the measures would be the licensing of all IT contractors and service providers for the purposes of procurements, public private partnerships and other forms of engagements.

    Pantami said: “The management of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) would like to bring to the attention of all Information Technology (IT) contractors, MDAs, other government establishments, the organised private sector and the general public that it has put measures in place to register and license all Information IT contractors and service providers for the purposes of procurements, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and other forms of engagement with government establishments and private sector.

    “The Agency is dismayed at the raising number of failing IT projects within federal MDAs and other government establishments.

    “NITDA’s investigations revealed that over 90 per cent of IT projects in MDAs and other government establishments failed and more than 95 per cent of their security is compromised.”

  • How ISPAS can check fraud in MDAs, by experts

    How ISPAS can check fraud in MDAs, by experts

    Financial experts have said that cases of fraud in Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) can be brought under control with the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) by governments at the three tiers.

    This was one of the submissions at a three-day training in Abuja, organised by a firm of Management and Financial Consultants, Double T Consults, in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    Delivering an address at the event, the Principal Consultant at Double T Consult, Mr. Abidemi Olusola Ajao, emphasised the need for uniformity in the preparation of financial statements of the MDAs, to reflect standard global practice.

    Ajao however observed that most of the MDAs have yet to comply with IPSAS, thereby making it difficult for them to block financial leakages in the system.

    This, according to him, has remained a setback to transparency and accountability in the public financial accounting system, thereby weakening the Federal Government’s anti corruption war.

    He maintained that until the MDAs fully complied with IPSAS, revenue leakages would continue to go undetected, adding that it would also erode the credibility of the nation’s system as relates to global financial practices.

    Ajao called on the authorities at different tiers of government to take advantage of available expert training window, to enable them bring their financial accounting methods into full compliance with IPSAS.

    Stating that the benefits of compliance are long lasting, Ajao warned that the risks associated with non compliance could jeopardise the country’s public financial and accounting systems, particularly in terms of transparency in public transactions.

    Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), had, at its meeting on July 28, 2010, approved Nigeria’s adoption of the provisions of IPSAS for its public sector accounting system.

    The FEC had similarly approved the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for private sector accounting, but which has also recorded low compliance level.

    As follow a up, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) at its meeting held on June 13, 2011, had set up a sub committee to provide a roadmap for the implementation of IPSAS in the three tiers of government in the country.

    The country finally adopted IPSAS in 2016 as the Federal Government  made it mandatory for the MDAs to adopt it as the only approved form of financial reporting at the three tiers of government.

  • TSA remittances: Buhari’s CoS to appear before Reps over exemption of MDAs, NNPC accounts

    TSA remittances: Buhari’s CoS to appear before Reps over exemption of MDAs, NNPC accounts

    •NNPC boss gets 48 hours to produce presidential approval

    Chief of Staff (CoS) to  the President Abba Kyari is to appear before a House of Representatives’ panel investigating noncompliance with Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    Kyari is expected to explain, with documented evidence what led to his approvals for the exemption of certain accounts of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from remitting to the TSA.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)  was also given 48 hours to produce the Presidential approval that exempted it from remitting it’s funds to the TSA.

    Also, Chief Executive Officers  (CEOs) of money deposit banks involved in the operation of the exempted accounts were given till next Wednesday to appear or face being forced to.

    Some money deposit banks participating in TSA were found to have refused to remit over N50 billion to the TSA, claiming they have an approval from the President to exempt some accounts.

    The exempted accounts of some MDAs as well as the NNPC were operated by Fidelity Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank, Zenith Bank and  First City Monument Bank among others.

    The ultimatum handed down to the bank CEOs and others followed the indifferent  attitude of the bank CEOs that failed to respond to the committee’s requests.

    None of the bank chiefs were present at the hearing which led to the Committee’s refusal to take the presentation of their representatives.

    Committee Chairman Nuhu Danburam (APC, Jigawa) said widespread non-compliance was discovered among the banks over remittance to TSA, a policy designed by the government to curb corruption and plug leakages in government revenues.

    He said it was the determination of the House to assist the government in the realisation of the set objectives of the TSA policy.

    He also warned that the Nigerian company that operates the system would not be allowed to collapse due to deliberate  default by the participating banks that are owing it huge sums of money dating back to more than a year.

    The  committee asked the Central Bank (CBN), being the government banker, if it was aware of the exempted accounts and on whose authority were the accounts allowed to be exempted.

    Dipo Fatokun, who represented CBN Governor  Godwin Emefiele, said the apex bank was aware of exempted accounts, saying, “Yes we are aware, it is not yet hundred percent transfer and we have the schedule”.

    On NNPC exempted accounts, he said CBN was only aware of the approval for NNPC JV account.  “Apart from that approval,  there is no other approval that I’m aware of,” he added

    The committee, however, faulted the CBN defence, stating that an approval signed by the Chief of Staff to the President made reference to NNPC’s letter of request for several accounts.

    The committee also said the Chief of Staff gave a blanket  approval without being specific on any account for exemption.

    As a result, it asked the NNPC’s  Group Managing Director (GMD) Maikanti Baru to appear before it with the proof of the approval.

    The committee also said that with the latest development, it has become necessary for the Chief of Staff to appear before it to explain where or how he got the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the exemption.

    “The directive was more like an Executive Order that must be signed by the President, as such, this committee need to know if due diligence was carried out in giving the Presidential approval,” Fatokun said.

    The committee gave CBN till the end of the month to submit its two years  reconciliation report with the Accountant General of the Federation, the MDAs and the banks, because the report will form  the basis of its own final report to the House.

    The CBN was also directed that the  Auditor General of the Federation be granted access to all accounts in CBN and its records on matters of the TSA.

    The bank CEOs were given till next Wednesday to appear before it or face being forced to.

    Hearing was adjourned to next Wednesday.

     

     

  • NITDA warns MDAs over .gov.ng domain name

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said it has observed disregard for the use of .gov.ng domain by government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the transaction of government business despite previous directive to comply.

    Its Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Isa Pantami, said to ensure strict compliance with the agency’s directive by ensuring that all government business transactions are strictly carried out on the country code Top Level Domain of the Nigerian government (ccTLD.ng).  measures have been put in place to ensure that all government MDAs (federal, state, and local government) operate within the .gov.ng.

    According to him, the measures include ensuring that all requests for .gov.ng domain are verified and approved within 24hours, provided all conditions are met;  provision of a special purpose 24/7 mobile phone number (+2348140504418) for responses to enquiries and technical support; regular evaluation of government websites in collaboration with relevant agencies of the government; and blacklisting of all MDA sites running on Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD), other than the .gov.ng.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the NITDA, a Federal Government agency tasked with the implementation of the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and co-ordination of general IT development and regulation in the country. Section 6(l) of the NITDA Act mandates that NITDA renders advisory services in all Information Technology matters to the public and private sectors. NITDA is also mandated to ensure Internet governance and supervision of the management of the country code top-level domain (cctld.ng) on behalf of all Nigerians.”