By John Ikani
The governing boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would no longer be allocated official quarters and vehicles on permanent basis.
The ban was made known by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha on Monday in Abuja at the induction program for Chairmen, governing board members and Chief Executives of parastatals, agencies and commissions inaugurated by the Federal Government.
The SGF who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), Dr. Maurice Mbaeri said the boards must only operate on part time basis.
“The boards must only operate as a part-time boards in accordance with extant rules that forbid allocation of official quarters to members on a permanent basis, use of official vehicles by members on a permanent basis and authorizes payment of estacode allowances for only overseas travels approved by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and their supervising Ministry,” he said.
Mr Mustapha also said a number of worrisome issues have begun to emerge, including disagreements on who is responsible for the day-to-day running of parastatals and agencies; interference in the function of the Office of the Chief Executive Officer; directives to staff without recourse to the Chief Executive Officer thereby creating disharmony amongst personnel.
“Initiating unlawful disciplinary measures against the Chief Executive without requisite guidance and approval from supervisory Ministry, and instigating the labour unions and associations as agents of distraction in the parastatals,” he added.
Director-General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, said the event was aimed at strengthening weak corporate governance practice in government agencies in recent times and in view of the avoidable frictions and misunderstandings between and among CEO/Board Members/Commissioners in some Federal Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions.
