The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Permanent Secretary

  • Perm Sec: I’ll work with minister to achieve Buhari’s change agenda

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Mr. Christian Ohaa has indicated his readiness  to support the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s Change Agenda.

    Ohaa disclosed this during the monthly management meeting of Heads of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) of the FCT Administration.

    The Permanent Secretary implored directors and other senior management staff of the administration to key into the Change Agenda of the President which is hinged on zero-tolerance to corruption, excellent service delivery and improving the quality of  lives of Nigerians from all walks of life.

    According to a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Tony Odey, the Permanent Secretary said: “I’m sent here to support the Minister to drive to fruition Mr. President’s Mandate for this administration. As you are all aware the watchword of this present government is transparency and accountability and that is why all of us are here.

    “Therefore, we must prove to Mr. President that we have bought into his mandate. We will support him to succeed in his passion to bring a change to this country. We will support him so that when visitors come into city, they will have good impression about Nigerians.

    “I believe in you. I believe that together we can support Mr. President and the Minister to usher in radical change into Nigeria.

    “I present myself before you, to work with you with sincerity of purpose. To make sure we do the right thing at every given time. To make sure we are prompt even when there are emergencies. This is because all of us are here to work for the good of our people and ourselves and also for the future of our children. Let’s work in synergy. Please, don’t let me down.”

    Ohaa further remarked that the Minister shares in totality the vision and ideals of Mr. President, to reposition Nigeria on the path of rectitude in order to be an example in the comity of nations.

    “The Minister is a man of integrity. A man who is highly contented and when the head is correct, the whole body must follow.”

    The scribe maintained that he would stick to extant rules and regulations in the way and manner things are done in the Territory.

    Oahu who solicited the co-operation of the staff, promised to do his bit to improve on the human capacity and staff welfare of FCTA staff.

    He further expressed his resolve to drive vigorously policies and programmes that would enhance the lives of residents of the Territory.

    The new Permanent Secretary later inaugurated the series of Management meetings that would take place under his supervision.

     

  • Fed Govt, Labour clash over Perm Sec’s posting

    Crisis is gradually brewing between the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), over the posting of a new Permanent Secretary by the Head of Service of the Federation.

    Chairman, FCT Joint Unions Action Committee, Comrade Titus Okoro accused the office of the Head of Service of always posting junior officers to oversee the affairs of senior directors in the FCTA.

    Okoro, who briefed newsmen on the development, said the Head of Service did not follow due process, adding, “It was our plans, ab initio, to stage a peaceful protest immediately after the retirement of the immediate past FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, but after consultations with stakeholders and other union leaders, we decided to approach the issue in a more civil manner, hence, we have decided to address you to carry the message to the appropriate quarters with a view to doing the right thing.     “While we welcome our brand new Permanent Secretary to FCT Administration, we want to use this medium to draw the attention of the Head of Service of the Federation to the Dissolution Order 1 of 2004, which in practical terms abolishes the office of a Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, as a quasi-State of the Federation. If the Head of Service is still feigning ignorance of the law, then today’s press conference will serve as an eye opener because we trust that the caliber of media organisations represented here are capable of conveying the message to their doorsteps.”

    The union urged the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to advise President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to revert to the Dissolution Order for effective administrative structures.

    It also called on the National Assembly to pass into law the FCT Civil Service Commission and other Bills that will enhance effective administration as applicable in other states of the federation since the 1999 constitution recognises the FCT as one of the states.

    Okoro said, “Retrospectively, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) gave birth to Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) via Order 1 of 2004. In summary, the Dissolution Order 1 of 2004 simply states that “the administrative and bureaucratic structure established and referred to as the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory is hereby abolished with effect from December 31, 2004. There shall be established for the Federal Capital Territory, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Minister. The Chief of Staff shall be appointed by the Minister, and shall enjoy the conditions of service applicable to a Special Assistant in the Office of the President. The Chief of Staff shall perform the functions that a Secretary to the Government of a State customarily performs in relation to that State.   “It is instructive to note that in the exercise of the powers conferred on Mr. President by Section 299 and 302 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and Sections 14 and 18(b) of the Federal Capital Territory Act Cap F6 Laws of Nigeria 2004 and other powers enabling Mr. President in that behalf, and with the intention to ensure the prompt, effective and efficient administration of, and delivery of services to the residents in the Federal Capital Territory, the Dissolution Order 1 was gazetted in 2005, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. (Please see attached document for ease of reference).

    “It is disheartening when Head of Service of the Federation post a junior officer to oversee the affairs of very Senior Directors in the FCT Administration. In our considered views, it is absolutely anti-progressive. We therefore as organized body vehemently kick against the posting of a Permanent Secretary to FCT Administration by the Service.

    “We, however, pledge as obedient servants to work with the new Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian C. Ohaa, until the Service do the needful by complying with extant laws that established the Federation Capital Territory Administration.

    “We want to re-echo in an unmistakable terms that we stand on Dissolution Order 1 of 2004.”

  • Ogun urges participation in health care delivery

    The Ogun State government has urged members of various communities in the state to revive Ward Health Development Committees (WDCs) in their localities to improve primary health care service delivery.

    The Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Nofiu Aigoro, made the call in Abeokuta, the state capital, at a Policy Dialogue Workshop organised by the State Primary Health Care Development Board in collaboration with KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Netherland.

    Dr. Aigoro said this has become necessary as a result of recently-conducted researches in Remo North East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on the need to increase immunisation exercise in the area.

    He noted that based on the research findings, active participation of members of the community is needed to ensure optimal primary health care service delivery, adding that their participation would assist in the implementation of government policies and programmes in the health sector.

    “This research has shown us that with community participation, there is improvement in health care service delivery which also translated to general health awareness among members of the community,’’ he said.

    Earlier in his address, the Acting Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, said the research work was embarked upon to find out the reason for the high number of unimmunised children at the end of 2014 immunisation in the Ilara and Ipara wards of the Remo North East LCDA.

    He opined that findings from the research had shown that better result could be achieved when members of the community worked together with government agencies, even as he called on the people to support health officers posted to their domains.

    Presenting the research findings, the leading investigator, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Dr. Ngozi Akwataghibe, said the research had shown the importance of involving members of the communities in the execution of government policies and programmes, noting that there was a drastic improvement in the level of people’s awareness of their health needs.

    In his remarks, the Chairman, Remo North LCDA, Mr Segun Idowu, pledged the council’s readiness to continue its support to the state government in its commitment to provide quality health services for the people.

  • State House Permanent Secretary not suspended

    The Presidency on Friday denied media reports claiming that the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Jalal Arabi, has been suspended.

    A statement by the Deputy Director (Information), Abiodun Oladunjoye said that Mr Arabi was at his desk on Friday dutifully attending to important state matters.

    The statement also noted that Arabi is not under any probe, and neither is he a subject of any enquiry.

    “Also, there is absolutely no truth in the spurious allegations levelled against the Permanent Secretary and his office in the fictitious report published by an on-line medium.

    “I remain committed and dedicated to the professional discharge of my duties and I refuse to be distracted by adversarial forces,” Mr Arabi was quoted in the statement

    The Permanent Secretary also attended Juma’at prayer at the State House mosque with other Muslim faithful with President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.

  • Joke Silva, Kunle Afolayan, inaugurated into Lagos Board of Arts & Culture

    Joke Silva, Kunle Afolayan, inaugurated into Lagos Board of Arts & Culture

    …Begins construction of Six new Arts Theatres

    ​

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday inaugurated a Board of Arts and Culture, urging them to go all out and explore private sector support to nurture new talents and generate events for a sustainable development of the creative arts sector in the State.

    The Governor, who spoke at the inauguration of the Board at the Banquet Hall, Lagos State, said that though the State Government in the last 23 months has covered a lot of ground in terms of design and structure of the arts and entertainment sector, so much still needed to be done if it must realise its goal to become a global hub for music, theatre and film.

    “The commitment of our administration to harness the huge creative talents that abound in the State in the fields of Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Sports has never been in doubt. The ultimate goal is to use all of these to drive tourism, create employment and increase the contribution of the non-oil sector to the State’s gross domestic product.

    “The Council for Arts and Culture which we have just inaugurated has a huge responsibility to translate our vision in this regard to reality,” the Governor said.

    Governor Ambode said the Board would among other things, be expected to ensure the sustainable management of arts and culture facilities and infrastructures in the State and create a sustainable framework for the sector.

    While urging the Board to generate local and international events to showcase and promote the State’s diverse talents in the field of creative arts, music, entertainment and sports, he tasked them to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage while being sensitive to the diverse cultures of the citizens of the State.

    He said the State was currently leading the initiatives to transform the National Museum and the iconic National Arts Theatre into world class centres of history, tourism arts and entertainment, while construction work on the six arts theatres across the state has began in earnest.

    Besides, Governor Ambode said that in recognition of the enormous responsibilities the Board would be saddled with, his administration ensured that only seasoned professionals, notable and respected personalities were chosen to serve on the council.

    Members of Board include, arts enthusiast, Mrs. Polly Alakija as Chairman, with veteran thespian, Joke Silva, multiple award winning actor and movie producer, Kunle Afolayan, influential visual artist, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo and  foremost artist and designer, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye as members.

    Other members include, Mobee of Badagry, High Chief Patrick Yodenu Mobee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Adeyemi and Director of Culture at the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Saidat Otulana.

    He said the inauguration of the Board, coming on the heels of the 50-day event countdown of the State’s Golden Jubilee celebration, showed the total commitment of his administration to put the arts and culture sector in the right perspective.

    “We will continue to provide a conducive environment for a private sector-led development as a strategy towards actualizing our vision. While we will intervene where and when necessary to support this development strategy, it will be the responsibility of this distinguished Council to seek and explore private sector support to nurture new talents and generate events for a sustainable development of the creative arts sector in the State,” he said.

    Governor Ambode also thanked members of the Board for accepting to serve the State especially the Chairman, Mrs. Polly Alakija, whom according to him, is well revered for her commitment to the arts and selfless service to the society.

    Speaking on behalf of the new appointees, Mrs. Polly Alakija thanked Governor Ambode for reposing confidence on her and other Board members, assuring that they would stop at nothing to make great impact in the lives of young people through arts, culture and creative sector.

    She also assured of the commitment of the Board to explore all areas of possibilities to achieve the set out objectives to make the arts and entertainment sector evolve as a revenue generating mechanism for the State.

     

  • Reps to Buhari: You can’t extend civil servant’s year of service 

    Reps to Buhari: You can’t extend civil servant’s year of service 

    …ask Permanent Secretary to return illegally acquired emoluments

    The House of Representatives has upturned President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on the extension of a Permanent Secretary whose year of service was extended by the President.

    The lawmakers directed that Jamila Shu’ara, until now a  Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education cease to be a civil servant with immedite effect.

    The Head of Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Winifred Oyo-Ita was directed to carry out the order and ensure that all emoluments enjoyed till date by Shu’ara since February 2016 when she was formally disengaged were returned.

    The directive was handed down yesterday at the ongoing investigative hearing on the issue between the Zakari Mohammed-led Committee on Basic Education and Services and the HoCSF.

    The lawmakers said  the President has no power under section 171(2)(d) of the 1999 Constitution or any other existing law to extend or elongate the tenure of Permanent Secretary whose tenure has expired be refluxion of time or age, whichever comes first

    Following its investigation, the Committee, without recourse to the defense of Shu’ara by the HoCSF resolved  that “The Head of Service should invoke relevant rules to recover all the emoluments paid to Mrs Jamila Shuara for the period of the extension.

    “That the Government should ensure that Civil service rules and procedures be strictly followed in future

    “That the retirement date of Dr Mrs Jamila Shuara remains 20th Feb.2016

    “That Dr Mrs jamila Shuara should vacate office immediately as her retirement date remains 20th Feb.2016 and

    “That the Head of Service should ensure compliance to this subject matter,and report back to the House in four weeks’ time”.

    The HoCSF in her written defense insisted that the President had the power to appoint or disengage any civil servant citing Section 171 (2) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    Oyo-Ita said though she called for the record of service of Dr Shuara from the Civil service Commission but yet to get a reply, she however insisted that the President derived such powers for such an extension.

    In her letter of defense to the Committee dated 29th March, 2017 the HoCSF stated that, “I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref: No NASS/HR/CT./.017/1013/230 dated 28th March, 2017 received today 29th March, 2019, and to respectively furnish the Chairman with the following:

    “I did not write any letter dated 17th March, 2016 with Ref. No. HCSF/1013/1 on the tenure of Dr (Mrs) Jamila Shuara as Permanent Secretary, rather the last letter wrote on this matter dated March 17th, 2017 with Reference No. HCSF/1013/1 was to Chief of Staff to the President.

    “I have sought Mr President’s permission to release a copy to the Committee and I am awaiting His Excellency’s response”.

    On the extant laws and rules guiding appointment, extension or appointment, Section 171 (2) (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) vests the President with the power to appoint and remove Federal Permanent Secretaries, and by virtue of Section 11(1) (a)(c) of the implementation Act Cap 123 laws of the Federation 2004, whoever has the power to appoint can re-appoint or reinstate.

    “It is instructive to note that personal files of all of all civil servants employed into the Federal Civil Service through the Federal Civil Service Commission are with the Commission, I have requested for the personal file of Dr (Mrs.) Jamila Shuara from the Commission and I’m expecting the response”.

    Notwithstanding, the Committee went ahead with its resolution that Mr President lacked the powere to ask Shu’ara to stay on.

     

  • ’40 SUVs recovered from perm sec’

    ’40 SUVs recovered from perm sec’

    The Federal Government said it has recovered 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from a former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos on the effectiveness of the anti-corruption strategy of the government.

    Mohammed said that government is being guided by a well-articulated strategy in its fight against corruption contrary to the misconception in certain circles that the government is fighting corruption without a strategy.

    He said the government was not just fixated on the only prosecution, but in taking preventive measures to make corruption unattractive.

    The minister stressed that the strict enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has largely reduced the diversion of government funds into secret accounts.

    He said the TSA has also reduced the constraints in fishing out ghost workers in the public service in most states in the country.

    According to him, other measures to strengthen the anti-corruption fight,  included the establishment of Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery, Asset Tracing Committee, Asset Register, and the Whistle Blower Policy.

    The Minister announced a plan by the government, through the Code of Conduct Bureau, to commence test-run of electronic asset declaration starting in 2017.

    He said the new method would facilitate compliance and enhance search and retrieval of data on the assets of public officers.

    In addition, he said, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption is working with relevant MDAs, especially the National Bureau of Statistics, to improve data collection on corruption indicators.

    ”Once perfected, the data will be shared with government periodically if possible, as regularly as government receives data on inflation and unemployment trends.

    “The data will indicate trends in corruption and influence government measures to correct the situation before it gets out of hand as we have now,” he said.

    The minister explained that the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery will meet regularly to collate reports from key law enforcement agencies on government’s anti-corruption effort.

    He said the committee would share information, intelligence and review challenges faced in anti-corruption efforts and give directives on the way forward.

    The minister added that the Asset Register has made the looting of government physical assets, notably vehicles, very difficult by political appointees, senior and middle-level officers.

    He said the recent approval of Whistle Blower policy was designed to further enhance government’s effort to recover looted funds.

    ”People who give credible and useful information to government that leads to recovery of stolen public assets will be rewarded with between 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent of the recovered fund.

    “Government will keep the identity of the whistle blower absolutely confidential,” he said.

    Mohammed said the government is finalizing the constitution of an Asset Tracing Team to work with internationally reputably bodies to trace and recover public assets in private hands.

    ”In this regard, government will also escalate the use of non-conviction-based asset recovery methods to boost revenue and diminish corruption and the perception that crime pays or criminals can keep their loot,” he said.

    The minister disclosed that the administration is collaborating with  Nigerians in the diaspora and international civil society organisations in the campaign for the return of looted assets.

  • Oshiomhole appoints head teacher Permanent Secretary

    Oshiomhole appoints head teacher Permanent Secretary

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appointed a head teacher, Mrs Obosamwinye Obazee, as a Permanent Secretary.

     

    Mrs. Obazee was among four new Permanent-Secretaries Governor Oshiomhole appointed few hours to the end of his tenure.

     

    Others appointed are Mr Anthony Okungbowa, Ministry of Justice; Mr Kadiri Bashiru, Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress; Mr Y.A Imoudu, Chairman, Association of Secondary School Principals and  Headmistress.

     

    This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oshiomhole, Mr. Peter Okhiria.

     

    The swearing-in of the new appointees which was yet to hold as at press time.

  • Flood wreaks havoc in Bauchi State

    Flood wreaks havoc in Bauchi State

    No fewer than 12 persons have been confirmed dead while valuable property were destroyed by flood, which ravaged parts of Ganjuwa and Giade Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred in the remote areas of the two councils late on Sunday, following a downpour.

    It was learnt that eight persons died at Gulbuk in Giade council area while the remaining four deaths were recorded in Gala-Makera and Galam Baba villages in Ganjuwa council.

    A source said that the corpses of the deceased including children were recovered by some good Samaritans in various locations in the affected areas.

    Alhaji Aliyu Ahmad, Permanent Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told reporters on Tuesday in Bauchi that a team of experts from the agency had visited the affected areas.

    Ahmad said that the team was still in the areas to assess the level of damage and assured that details would be made available to newsmen later.

  • Ex-Kogi permanent secretary abducted

    Ex-Kogi permanent secretary abducted

    A former permanent secretary in Kogi State, Mr. Moses Onivehu, has been kidnapped.

    Onivehu was abducted on the Okene-Lokoja highway while returning from Okene Sunday night.

    His wife, Mrs. Onivehu, who spoke on phone yesterday, said her husband was kidnapped close to Kabba junction on the Okene-Lokoja highway while returning to Lokoja after spending the weekend with the family at Okene.

    She explained that the kidnappers have contacted his children but made no specific demand.

    “I told them he is on medication and so should be released,” she added.

    Police spokesperson William Aya could not confirm the incident as the divisional police officer (DPO) was said to be ’on transfer’.

    He, however, said the incident will be investigated.