FG threatens to sanction River basin boards The Federal Government on Monday threatened to sanction errant boards of various River Basin Development Authorities that failed to abide by stipulated operational mandates. The RBDA boards were inaugurated in May 2013 shortly after their reconstitution by the President in April. The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, stated that the boards had failed to pursue the mandate of their respective appointments as contained in the Act setting up the RBDA, the transformation agenda of the Federal Government and other extant policies and procedures. She spoke on the occasion of a retreat for RBDAs, boards and management organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Abuja. Ochekpe said, “Some of the reports I have been receiving indicate that the modalities, rules and procedures in the exercise of the mandate of the boards are being interpreted differently from one RBDA to the other. This is especially as they affect powers of the board and powers of the management in procurement, appointment, promotion, discipline, fund disbursement, welfare packages and several other issues. “In some instances, the interpretations of these mandates have been completely against the spirit of setting up the boards which are meant to assist us in the repositioning of the RBDAs to play increased role in the efforts of the ministry in water resources development to enhance rural water supply, the management of irrigated agriculture to boost food production and food security in country. “What seems to be emerging in some RBDAs is the contest for superiority between the boards and managements and sometimes with the ministry in the area of contract awards, project management, appointments, over bloated welfare packages and other administrative issues.” The minister said she had invited experts and senior government officials during the inauguration of the boards to address the members on key issues in order to have better understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities. But regretted that the presentation and discussions then were seemingly not sufficient for clear comprehension of the issues raised, a development that had warranted another retreat. Ochekpe said several requests for urgent information on the operations of RBDAs required by the ministry and the Presidency were never responded to by the authorities as and when required. According to her, managing directors and executive directors leave their duty stations sometimes without proper documentations and warned that such should stop. She said, “Any RBDA that delays on the return of information beyond the stipulated deadline must be sanctioned and any MD or ED who travels out of his constituency coverage without the knowledge of the minister, permanent secretary or chairman of the board of the authority must also be sanctioned. “These sanctions could include suspension from office. I hope these directives are well taken because sanctions will be applied whenever there is a default.”
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 17:19:44 +0000
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