Minister To Sanction River Basin Chiefs For Hoarding Data, Unapproved Trips
Water Resources minister Sarah Ochekpe has warned that managing directors of river basin development authorities would henceforth be sanctioned if found hoarding official data or undertaking unapproved trips.
She gave the warning while addressing stakeholders at the ongoing Retreat for Boards and Management of River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in Abuja on Monday.
“We have observed, managing directors and executive directors leave their duty stations sometimes without proper documentation and visit other government agencies in the federal capital ostensibly for meetings without the knowledge of the ministry.
“Henceforth, the river basins must submit reports of their meetings with other government agencies such as the National Assembly, the Ecological Fund Office, the ministry of inter-governmental affairs and special duties, etc.
“Any river basin that delays on the return of information beyond the stipulated deadline must be sanctioned; these sanctions could include suspension from office.
“I hope these directives are well-taken because sanctions will definitely be applied whenever there is a default,” she warned.
While noting the challenges of the RBDAs which include shortage of funds and inadequate personnel, Ochekpe urged synergy between board managers and managing directors for effective running of the basins.
She underscored the need for mutual respect and trust, noting that the retreat would provide working guidelines for investments through internally generated revenue for the basins.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Umar Faruk, said the River Basins were important institutions playing multi-sector and multi-disciplinary roles.
Faruk, who was represented by Mr Daniel Daudu, a director in the Permanent Secretary’s office, added that the basins had increased food production through irrigated agriculture in their three decades of existence.
He also said that domestic and industrial water supply and hydropower generation including the construction of dams and environmental safety and management had also been accelerated through the activities of the rivers basins.
The permanent secretary, however, urged the board members and managing directors of the various river basins to tackle their individual challenges and ensure maximum success in their jobs for the development of the country.
“(For) almost one year the boards have been in place, the ministry feels it is now time to take stock as you have completed one budget year in 2013 and have began partial implementation of the 2014 budget.
“This is the last budget, as you would know, to be implemented by the present administration and you are expected to ensure high successes of your jobs.
“We know that there are challenges in the river basins especially those that are bound to arise in the working relationship between management of the river basins who are civil servants on one hand and the members of the boards who are politicians.
“But the success of the ministry and the river basins are paramount as such challenges must be managed with minimum damages to the vision, mission and achievements of the target of the river basins by both parties for the collective growth of Nigeria.”
NAN reports that the two-day retreat for river basins holding from May 12 to May 13, will witness presentations on roles, powers, and limits for boards and management of government agencies.
Also, alternative sources of funding, partial commercialisation of RBDAs, improving states and community relations as well as constituency projects, are some other issues slated for discussion at the retreat. (NAN)