August 19, 2024
By Adedoja Adesoji
The Federal Government has issued a stern warning against the recruitment of staff into agencies without proper approval.
This warning follows the recent endorsement of the new minimum wage by President Bola Tinubu.
Olufunsho Adebiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, conveyed this message during the opening of a one-day retreat organized by the State House Management and heads of government agencies under its supervision. The retreat was part of the preparations for the issuance of the call circular for the 2025 budget process.
Adebiyi highlighted that new public service rules are in place, detailing the criteria and procedures for promotions, including the timing, eligibility, and conduct of promotion examinations, emphasizing strict adherence to these rules.
During the retreat, the need for rigorous enforcement of government policies and penalties for non-compliance by agencies was also discussed.
The retreat provided a comprehensive overview for CEOs of government agencies on various aspects of public service, including appointment types, qualifications, procurement processes, budget preparation, and the monitoring and evaluation of government policies.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadeija, advised agency heads to adhere to the provisions that establish their organizations.
Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, Hadeija stressed the importance of following objectives set by State House management, especially in promoting e-governance to enhance operational efficiency.
He praised Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for his presentation titled “Delineation of Roles and Functions Between Management, the Agency, and its Supervising Entity: A Prerequisite for Effective Relationships and Mandate Delivery.”
Hadeija emphasized the retreat’s significance in reinforcing civil service regulations to senior civil servants, new appointees, and agency heads.
He noted the complexity of these regulations and agreed with Adebiyi’s point that some issues may resurface, underscoring the necessity of compliance with procedural governance and administration.
In summary, the authorities explained that the retreat aimed to enhance collaboration and synergy among the state and agencies under its supervision.
Agencies under the State House’s oversight include the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Nigeria Agriculture and Land Development Agency (NALDA), Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President (OCEAP), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Other agencies include the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, National Council on Climate Change (NATCCC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC).
