Sen. BUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI |
* Perm Sec transferred, allegedly for
incompetence
The Federal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) management team under the
leadership of the Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh was tongue-lashed by the senate
committee on agriculture with many questions on why the ministry has refused to
spend 2016 appropriation to ensuring agricultural production to the benefit of
small scales farmers.
Chief Ogbeh, according to our source, was
particularly put on a hot seat as many questions were being thrown at him
without any favorable response as expected from him by the senators who were
particularly vexed with the situation of the sector especially with the way and
manner things were being handled in the ministry as regards implementation of
the budget appropriation of which about 64% of funds had been released for
2016.
Findings by FoodFarmNews revealed that the committee
on agriculture was particular not happy with the way thing are being done in the
ministry as there is not much synergy in the ministry coupled non-implementation
of the 64% released appropriation budget for 2016 of which little or nothing
was expended to the benefit of agricultural production, while the bulk of the
money expended were on procurement with less for inputs support to the small
scale farmers.
A source
close to the committee told our correspondent that the spokesman of the Senate
who is also a member of the committee tongue lashed the minister and his crew
because of critical issues that seem to be hindering the ministry from working
at the pace of the present administration’s expectation as the status quo still
remains with no change especially in the ways of doing things.
One of the
questions asked by the senate committee, according to an eyes witness, was why
has the ministry refused to spend 64% of the budget approved and released for
execution since they know that agriculture is time bound.
All efforts
of the budget defense moderator to pacify the minister so as not to see the scenario as
witch-hunting was rebuffed by Chairman of the meeting who insisted on more
questions and asked the ministry to answer and revert back immediately to the
committee.
The senate
was asking for well computed figures of numbers of things to be procured in the
year 2016 appropriation and released budget with the numbers already procured.
Other
questions thrown at the minister and his crew were- What is the role of FMARD
in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower Programme? How does the
ministry want to assist the small holder farmers and many more?
Our source
said that the flow of the questions from the committee members revealed that
the senate may have rated the ministry’s performance very low to Mr. President’s
expectation for agricultural development through assisted programme to the
small scale farmers.
The source also
revealed that the level of synergy that can give performance delivery to the
ministry was not just there between the Minister and the civil servants
allegedly because of personality conflict as many sensitive memos meant for the
minister is never delivered either by his personal aides or lost in transit
thereby creating a serious communication gap, something which been hindering
progress in the ministry.
Also it was
gathered that the process of budget implementation had not been transparent in the ministry as most of the
procurement activities were still being handled in the same usual ways that did
not conform with change mantra of President Mohammudu Buhari.
Sources
confirmed that the minister may not know much about the procurement process according
to civil service procedure as this was usually done between the permanent
secretary and director in charge who may have connived to ‘split’ an
appropriation component in a way as to allow discrepancy, and there is no way
the minster can know except an explanation like this is demanded.
Meanwhile,
the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has swapped the Permanent Secretary
of the FMARD Dr. Shehu Ahmed with his counterpart at the Federal Ministry of Environment,
with a directive which was approved by the acting President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo stating that the handling over must be concluded before March 10, 2017.
Some of the
people who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the ministry had finally been
delivered from leadership incompetency being displayed by the outgoing
permanent secretary saying professionalism was almost relegated through favoritism.
The
following allegations were levied against him-failure to implement budget
despite release-
*forceful
removal of a director without regards to laid down rules and regulation with
example of former Director of Animal Husbandry Services, Dr. Ademola Raji whose
case is still pending before the Head of Civil Service commission.
*Illegal
seal of government office with the aid of security men thereby creating bad
precedence and making other directors feel unsafe.
* Gross
administrative incompetence.
* Disregard
to public service rule in conduct of his duties as permanent secretary.
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