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FG Asked Not to Relent in Regularizing Activities of Its Agencies for Effective Performance

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FG Asked Not to Relent in Regularizing Activities of Its Agencies for Effective Performance

By: Michael Mike

The federal government has been advised not to relent in its effort at regularizing the activities of its agencies to take out duplicity of roles and boost efficiency.

The advice was giving on Monday during the resumption to duty of the newly appointed Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Bariate.

Speaking at the event, Director, Inspection and Enforcement of NESREA, Abdulsalam Isa, while itemizing the challenges of the agency, which include workers welfare, low budget, amongst others, complained about the encroachment of the Ministry of Environment into the mandate of the agency.

He lamented that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was also duplicating some of the agency’s functions.

He said: “Presently, NESREA is confronted by multiple challenges that have hindered compliance monitoring and enforcement activities in recent times. These include: Lack of adequate funding which has made the agency to operate at a low capacity or inefficiency. Often times, accessing funds from government coffers is tough, and is a major obstacle to effective regulation of facilities. As a result, consistent visits and follow-ups are often lacking, leading to inadequate compliance monitoring and insufficient enforcement of standards.”

He added that: “To attain global standards, the agency’s financial quota needs a degree of increment/expansion that will shift the preponderance (superiority in weight, power, importance or strength) from short term funding to long-term funding for the agency’s growth and development. Recognizing the importance of compliance monitoring/enforcement and awareness creation as drivers of the existence of the agency, there is the need to strategically and consciously secure funds for work.”

He decried that: “There are functions which were domiciled with the agency that have been deliberately encroached on by the FMEnv, thereby causing rifts between the two parties. This has incapacitated the agency in the discharge of its duties.

“Also, just like most other government agencies, NESREA is faced with attempts by sister Agencies (example NAFDAC) to duplicate its functions, even when the NESREA Act clearly defines the boundaries of each Agency.

” It may interest you to note that since inception, the agency has established six (6) Zonal Offices, thirty-five (35) State Field Offices and two (2) Reference Laboratories across the nation to assist in tackling the various environmental challenges in all States of the Federation; however, the Agency regrettably has no field office in the FCT.

“The present office accommodation that houses the Headquarters is of great concern, considering the number of staff and available basic amenities in the building as well as proximity to other basic amenities such as transport stations, banks etc. Sir, serious attention is required in this area to ensure a conducive work environment for staff.

“Staff salary and welfare is grossly insufficient considering the extremely high cost of living in the country. Despite the hazards and challenges of the job, staff salaries have not seen a corresponding increase in recent years, and have remained stagnant since the last review in 2010, with no adjustments made to reflect the rising cost of living or the growing demands of the job.

“The agency’s salaries and allowances are nothing compared to other Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) worldwide and, even to similar Agencies like National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). So far, the Agency has made efforts to ensure a better salary and condition of service.

“Though at its final stage of implementation, the agency is yet to achieve any result due to political bottlenecks. This effort therefore requires urgent follow-up before implementation of the new minimum wage.”

On his part, the new Director General, Innocent Bariate said NESREA will need to work in unity to be able to achieve the agency’s mandate.

Innocent, who stressed the importance of unity, said, “I am coming with a plain mind and would want to assure you all that we will work together .”

He also added that: “We move not only to pursue the mandate but also to pursue the vision .

“The only way we can do that is by working together. You can count on me at all times but I will like to work with each and everyone.”

He also promised to look into the workers welfare, saying “under my leadership, I will pursue the welfare of workers.”

The DG also said that the agency will be collaborating with partners and other agencies to ensure that the agency fulfilled its mandates.

FG Asked Not to Relent in Regularizing Activities of Its Agencies for Effective Performance

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ECOWAS Court Leadership Visits ECOWAS Commission Auditor General for Collaboration

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ECOWAS Court Leadership Visits ECOWAS Commission Auditor General for Collaboration

By: Michael Mike

The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the Honourable Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, accompanied by the Honourable Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Vice-President of the Court, paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the ECOWAS Auditor General on 16 October 2024.

This meeting marks the beginning of a strengthened collaboration between the two institutions, in a spirit of transparency and good governance within the Community. 
In his address, João Alage Mamadu Fadia, Auditor General of ECOWAS Institutions, hailed the visit as a highly symbolic gesture, reflecting the willingness of the Court’s new management to work closely with his Office.

He recalled the scope of the ECOWAS mission, by stating that: ‘Serving a community of 15 Member States and more than 400 million citizens is an immense responsibility’. He also emphasized that the audit function is not limited to a control role, but also includes accompanying and advising institutions, in order to help them adhere to best governance practices. 

‘Our role is not to police, but to ensure that administrative and financial operations comply with established standards,’ he said.

He added that collaboration with the Court of Justice was crucial to enhancing transparency in the management of public affairs. 

In response, the Honourable Justice Ricardo Gonçalves expressed his commitment to working closely with the Office of the Auditor General throughout its mandate. ‘We recognise the important role of audit in improving our internal processes. We are here to express our willingness to follow your recommendations and to benefit from your advice in order to ensure sound and transparent management of the Court’, he said.

The President of the Court, who was also accompanied by the Chief Registrar, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama, stressed that the management of the Court’s judicial and administrative affairs required meticulous rigour. He added that cooperation with the Office of the Auditor General would be a key factor in the Court’s success in meeting the highest standards of governance and accountability.

The Auditor General, surrounded by several members of his team, including the Director of Operational Audit and the Director of Performance Audit, reiterated his commitment to supporting the Court throughout his mandate, affirming that his Office will always be available to provide technical and advisory support.

ECOWAS Court Leadership Visits ECOWAS Commission Auditor General for Collaboration

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Yobe Gov’t Constitutes Ten-Man Committee On New National Minimum Wage

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Yobe Gov’t Constitutes Ten-Man Committee On New National Minimum Wage
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By: Sule Mamudo
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The Yobe State, Governor His Excellency Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON has approved the constitution of an ten-man committee on the new National Minimum wage recently approved by the federal government.

The ten-man Committee to be the chaired by the Secretary to the State Government has the state Head of the Civil Service as Co- Chair while the remaining will serve as members.

The members of the committee includes the Hon. Commissioner of Finance, Alh. Mohammed Abatcha Geidam, Budget and Economic planning Alh. Garba Gagiyo, Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu Jajere FCNA, and the State Accountant General.
Others are Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Mukhtar Musa Tarabutu and TUC Bulama Musa while the Perm Sec Establishment Shuaibu Ibrahim Amshi and that of Public Service Office of the Head of Service Alh Dr. Bukar Kilo mni will serve as secretary and co-secretary respectively.

The ten man Committee will among other terms of reference workout modalities on the successful implementation of the new national minimum wage in the state.

The Committee will also determine the financial implication of the implementation of the new minimum wage at the State and Local Government in addition to make recommendations for Government consideration.

Yobe Gov’t Constitutes Ten-Man Committee On New National Minimum Wage

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UN Women Poaches Christian Religious Leaders to Combat Violence Against Women, Girl

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UN Women Poaches Christian Religious Leaders to Combat Violence Against Women, Girls

By: Michael Mike

UN Women and the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OIAC) have called for Christian leaders to escalate action to curb violence against women and girls.

This appeal came during a two-day UN Women and Ford Foundation-supported workshop for members of the OAIC.

OAIC is a community of leaders of different churches. The workshop aimed to enhance the knowledge of Christian leaders of the nuances of gender-based violence, initiate collective action against gender-based violence through the various church mechanisms, and provide the opportunity for Christian leaders and churches to network and consolidate on the fight against gender-based violence.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that an estimated 137 women are killed daily by a partner or family member globally, highlighting the severe consequences of GBV.

In Nigeria, GBV remains a significant challenge, manifesting in various forms, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful traditional practices. These issues are often perpetuated by cultural norms and religious misinterpretations that justify violence and discrimination against women and girls.

Religious leaders, as moral guides and influencers within their communities, play a critical role in either reinforcing these harmful norms or championing efforts to eradicate GBV, this informed the reason behind organizing the workshop to lobby them.

According to a statement by UN Women on Thursday, the workshop is intended to impact sermons delivered by clergies and Christian leaders so that messages delivered over the pulpit have interpretations of religious texts and tenets that address gender inequality, condemn gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices, and promote gender justice.

UN Women Programmes Officer Ibrahim Nurudeen facilitated sessions that demystified some harmful social norms and beliefs common in the religious cycle. Participants affirmed that some tenets need to be appropriately communicated in the contemporary context.

According to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Daniel Okoh, “We must use this opportunity to deal with deprivation of opportunities for the female members to exercise their God-given talents by their spouses and the leadership of their churches. We must first deal with these issues connected to GBV before we can effectively give moral leadership in this advocacy and, indeed, the battle”.

The workshop provided an in-depth analysis of GBV’ssocio-economic impact, its implications, and the critical role of religious leaders in combating this issue.Participants were equipped with strategies to incorporate gender equality principles in their messages, marriage counselling, and promoting healthy and respectful relationships.

President, OIAC Nigeria, Israel Akinadewo said: “Conclusively, as a noble organisation as ours, I would appeal that after these sessions, we become champions of spiritual battalions combating any form of GBV.”

The statement said by empowering religious leaders with the knowledge and tools they need, UN Women aims to drive a transformative socio-cultural shift towards a more just, equitable, and violence-free society in Nigeria and across West Africa.

UN Women Poaches Christian Religious Leaders to Combat Violence Against Women, Girls

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