FG moves to end tension, friction between ministers, perm secs

THE Federal Government has expressed concern about the recurrent tension and friction ministries between the Permanent Secretaries and the political appointees such as ministers and their aides.

Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, speaking at the induction training for 41 Permanent Secretaries during the weekend in Abuja, there was the urgent need to rebuild mutual trust and confidence amongst all parties concerned.

She added their gaps that needed to be filled so as to minimise areas of conflict in order to enhance efficient service delivery to Nigerian citizens.

She said: “Over time my office has observed recurring tension between Permanent Secretaries and other Stakeholders in Public Sector Administration, such as Ministers and their Aides, members of the National Assembly, Heads of Extra–Ministerial Agencies domiciled under them and organised Labour Unions.

“This induction training programme is for Permanent Secretaries, both old and new. This programme has been put together to give us the opportunity to discuss freely and proffer solutions to issues that affect Permanent Secretaries in the efficient and effective administration of their Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA’s),” she said.

Oyo-Ita, said the Permanent Secretaries have three generic roles as the administrative heads, policy advisers and accounting officers in the various MDA’s.

She, however, noted that these roles come with a lot of challenges, especially in this era of dwindling financial resources and escalating competing demands.

The Head of Service said for Permanent Secretaries to play their roles effectively there was a need to assist them to build their capacities, by participating in programmes of this nature, on a regular basis.

She listed some of the objectives of the training programme to include acquainting participants with their roles as administrative and accounting officers in their respective ministries as well as remind them of their approval limits in terms of payment and procurement thresholds.

She said there was also the need to properly inform the participants on how best to handle the knotty challenges that normally arise in their dealings with ministers and other stakeholders.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senate Paulker Emmanuel, said the invitation has come at the right time given the need to address the declining mutual trust and confidence in the working relationship between stakeholders in public administration and Permanent Secretaries in Nigeria.

He said this development constituted an impediment in the smooth running of affairs of government which has serious implications for efficient service delivery.

Acting Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Honourable Simon Etim, in his remark on the occasion, said the Permanent Secretaries have a major role to play in the Change Agenda of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, urging them to work hard to improve the bureaucracy in terms of staff dedication to duty, efficiency and effectiveness, transparency, accountability and selfless service.

He noted that in most cases the issues around such as frictions were mainly on disbursement of funds and procurement, saying the Permanent Secretaries often complain of the overbearing pressures from the political heads to breach extant rules.