Says BPP Act to be reviewed
The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the proposed 2025 budget for State House agencies will be based on a thorough needs assessment to ensure that funds allocated to agencies were based on actual requirements.
Gbajabiamila spoke to the media on Wednesday in Abuja, following a one-day fact-finding tour of some government agencies under the supervision of State House.
”In any country in the world, resources are limited. For us it is about prioritising. Where are we so far? What have the agencies done? How have they measured up to their mandates and how important are their mandates in terms of the vision of this administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda?
”A lot of agencies are not properly funded. Do we merge some of these agencies, do we scrap some? I’m not talking about the State House agencies.
”In 2025 we are not going to budget in a vacuum. We will budget based on needs assessment,” he said.
Earlier, in separate interactions with Heads and staff of the agencies, the Chief of Staff pledged that the Presidency would ensure better welfare and working conditions of staff within the agencies under the supervision of the State House.
He urged the staff of the agencies to embrace innovation, excellence, and professionalism, while supporting their Chief Executives to succeed.
Accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff), Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Gbajabiamila also emphasised the importance of transparency in the procurement process, which is critical to upholding the administration’s commitment to good governance and accountability.
The Chief of Staff visited the Nigeria Agriculture and Land Development Agency (NALDA), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
During the tour, Gbajabiamila underscored the importance of these agencies in driving the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the economic and development sectors, and reiterated the administration’s resolve to strengthen these institutions.
He noted that the visit, the first of its kind under this administration, was a follow-up to the recent one-day retreat for the Heads of State House Agencies.
The retreat was convened to reinforce the administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions, ensuring they are well-equipped to fulfill their mandates and reducing the cost of governance.
Assuring the agencies that their concerns on staff renumeration, inadequate office accommodation and other legitimate challenges would be addressed, Gbajabiamila said measures would be put in place to create a more conducive work environment.
”This government is particular about diversifying our economy and the role the agriculture sector has to play is very important, ” he said during an interactive session with the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Engr. Cornelius Adebayo.
”This government is focusing very seriously on agriculture and food security and we trust that NALDA will continue to be innovative in its operations, including developing greenhouses and supporting the cultivation of more arable land across the country ” he added.
At BPP, the Chief of Staff while responding to a presentation by the acting Director-General, Olusegun Omotola, commended the agency for saving the Federal government some N1.7 trillion from 2009-2022 by blocking loopholes that would have been exploited during procurement.
”The Act establishing the Bureau is going through a review process that will make it meet international best practices, reduce corruption, red tape and bureaucracy.
”We will also look at the staff renumeration and why there has not been a review over the years, especially when compared with sister agencies like Debt Management Office whose renumeration and salary structure has been reviewed a couple of times over the years,” the Chief of Staff said in response to a request by BPP’s acting DG.
On the National Council on Procurement (NCP), which is an establishment of the law but has never been inaugurated since the creation of the Bureau, the Chief of Staff hinted that President Tinubu intends to inaugurate the Council, conscious of the need for the proposed amendments to the BPP Act.
Addressing the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Gbajabiamila commended the agency for remitting over N1trillion proceeds to the Federal government since 1999 and emphasized the need for improvement.
”We are ready to work with you to make you achieve your mandate optimally,” he assured.
BPE’s Director-General, Ayodeji Gbeleyi, disclosed that the agency had received N93.4bn from privatization projects in the first and second quarter of 2024, though this fell short of the revised expected revenue of N259.7 billion.
At NAEC, the Chief of Staff to the President reaffirmed government’s commitment to developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation in the country.
Responding to a presentation by Prof. Yusuf Ahmed, the Chairman of NAEC, Gbajabiamila said government recognizes the importance of incorporating nuclear technology into Nigeria’s energy mix to meet the nation’s growing energy needs.
At NASENI, Gbajabiamila commended the agency for championing local content development, particularly in the areas of electric vehicles, motorbikes and solar-powered smart irrigation systems, through accelerated technology transfer.
He expressed President Bola Tinubu’s confidence in the nation’s human resources and their ability to lead technological advancement.
”I’m very impressed with what we have seen and what we have heard,” the Chief of Staff said after a tour of facility at NASENI.
”The fact that you have 35 market ready products and have completed 44 tangible project and initiatives in 10 months speaks volumes to your commitment, dedication and passion for what you are doing.
”I commend you and the rest of the team on what you are doing. We live in a world of modern-day technology and Nigeria must not be left behind and we need agencies like NASENI to propagate the President’s vision on advancement in technology,” he told the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu.
On staff welfare, the Chief of Staff noted that creating an enabling work environment is very important to boosting staff morale and productivity.
He noted that due to NASENI’s location at the Idu industrial layout, Abuja, approximately 30 kilometers from the city center, the management should provide adequate support to ease transportation costs for employees.
In his remarks, Halilu thanked President Tinubu for his unflinching support to the agency.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to conducting research and development, as well as the production and commercialization of products that contributes directly to Nigeria’s GDP and improve the lives of the people.
PENGASSAN Throws Weight Behind Federal Gov’t To End Crude Oil Theft
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has assured its full support to the Federal Government in its ongoing efforts to eradicate crude oil theft, a persistent issue that has plagued the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The commitment was made on Wednesday by the PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, during his opening address at the ongoing PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS 2024) in Abuja.
In his speech, Comrade Osifo emphasised the critical role of the summit in addressing the pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Osifo highlighted the theme of this year’s summit, “The Future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry: Energy Mix, Energy Security, Artificial Intelligence, Divestment, and Crude Oil Theft,” as particularly relevant, given the current state of the sector.
“The scourge of crude oil theft poses a significant threat to our industry, economy, and national integrity. As an association, we have been at the forefront of this battle, both through public advocacy and strategic collaborations within the industry.
“We are committed to working alongside the government and other stakeholders to implement enhanced security measures, technological innovations, community engagement, and closer collaboration with law enforcement agencies”, he stated
The summit, which will run from August 21 to 23, has brought together industry experts and stakeholders to engage in discussions aimed at shaping the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Topics, such as energy security, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the impact of international oil companies’ divestment from Nigeria are among the critical issues being addressed.
Osifo also expressed concern about the broader economic challenges facing Nigeria, particularly the recent policy directions that have led to significant hardships for Nigerians.
He pointed to the devaluation of the Naira, which has seen the currency drop from 450 Naira per dollar in May 2023 to around 1,600 Naira, causing steep increases in the prices of petroleum products and other imported commodities.
Despite these challenges, the PENGASSAN President lauded recent government initiatives, including an Executive Order signed by President Bola Tinubu, which grants incentives to investments in the oil and gas industry.
He noted that this has already led to significant developments, such as the $550 million Final Investment Decision (FID) announced by NNPC Limited and TotalEnergies for the Ubeta project.
As the summit progresses, he added that PENGASSAN remains focused on ensuring that the outcomes of the discussions will contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The summit is expected to set the tone for policy directions that will shape the future of Nigeria’s energy sector and the nation’s economy at large.
