In what observers see as an action preparatory to the imminent implementation of the Orosanye White Paper that is expected to usher in fundamental changes into the civil service, considered by most Nigerians as heavily politicized, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved appointment Of three new Permanent Secretaries and redeployment of six.
Buhari had revealed that the white paper which was submitted since 2011 be subjected to immediate review for the Federal Government to implement its general recommendation.
He also hinted that the review is about to be completed and its implementation would bring some fundamental changes to the structure of the Civil Service, whose senior officers are believed to be ‘insulated’ from hardships being experienced by the lower citizens, due to their alleged exposure to all manner of kitty or petty cash’, which are only retired based on supplied ‘receipts.’
Indeed,metrobusinessnews.com (MBN) learnt that the permanent Secretaries, for instance, are currently agitating to be removed from the contributory pension scheme (CPS) as they do not need to save for retirement life as the ‘benefits’ of the office are believed to be enough for both ‘on the job and retirement lives.’
The Oronsaye report has been a subject of controversy as it proposes, among other things, the merging and outright scrapping of over 263 government agencies.
However, according to a memo by Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. HCSF/248/ll/255, and dated August 19, “His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the deployment and re-deployment of the underlisted permanent Secretaries as follows :
The new appointees are; Mrs Jafiya Shehu to Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr Faruk Yabo to Special Duties Office, office of the HOCSF and
Mr. Udo Ekanem to Service Policies and Strategies Office in office of HOCSF.
Those deployed and redeployed are Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, deployed from Ministry of Aviation to Ministry of Police Affairs; Nebeolisa Anako from Ministry of Power to Budget and National Planing; Mr Temitope Fashedemi from Ministry of Police Affairs to Ministry of power;and Dr Emmanuel Meribole from office of the HOCSF to Ministry of Aviation.
Others are; Dr Adaora Anyanwutaku from Ministry of Information and Culture to Police Service Commission; Mr Aliyu Shehu from Ministry of Finance to Ministry of Women Affairs;
“Accordingly, the handing over and taking over processes should be completed on or before Friday Aug. 26 except for the Federal Ministry of Finance (Budget and National Planning Arm), which should be carried out as stipulated above.” the memo said.
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Analysts are waiting with bated breath, how the Buhari government would muster the needed political-will to fully implement the report based on the recommendations.
Some of the major areas of concerns to some Nigerians have been the high cost of governance perpetuated mostly by Appointments of aides by the elected officials as well as alleged serious leakages in the system.
This is aside from the alleged corruption and impunity in high places and alleged lack of ‘supervision monitoring and accountability.’