Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has charged Permanent Secretaries to ensure compliance with due process in government and resist all forms of corrupt practices.
Oyo-Ita said this at the 2018 Procurement Retreat for Permanent Secretaries in Calabar, Cross River State.
The theme for this year’s edition is “Public Procurement for Sustainable National Development”.
She told the over 60 Permanent Secretaries to seize the momentum created by President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption to restore hope and dignity in the service.
As part of her remarks, the Head of Service told institutions and individuals who seek to do business with the federal government to ensure they play by the extant rules and regulations.
She urged the Permanent Secretaries to implement this development in the procurement process of the 2018 Budget, as it will send a clear signal that it is no longer business as usual.
Oyo-Ita said the retreat was timely, coming at a time when 22 new Permanent Secretaries, sworn in by President Buhari last year, were participating for the first time.
While reiterating her vision for the civil service, the HoS lauded the present administration for efforts put in place in leading the country out of recession and increasing Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank ease of doing business.
Recall that in October 2017, Nigeria moved up 24 points to 145 positions in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index for 2018.
“This retreat provides another avenue to further renew our commitment to deepening the on-going Public Service Reforms by affirming our commitment to serve effectively as machinery for implementing Government policies and programmes for the greater good of the citizenry and our dear country,” Oyo-Ita told Perm Secs.
“Permit me to seize this opportunity to reiterate my vision of the EPIC (Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred) civil servant towards restoring hope and dignity to the service from the bottom up by reversing the current reputation for inefficiency, low productivity, corruption and insensitivity to the needs of the public.
“We must seize the momentum that has been generated by Mr. President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption.
“In this era of profound changes, civil servants must stand firm on due process. Institutions and individuals who seek to do business with the government must commit to playing it by the rules.
“This is the only way to achieve 100% budget implementation. While it is true that civil servants may work under political pressure, we have a responsibility to resist attempts to subvert extant rules and regulations.
“As EPIC civil servants, the procurement process in 2018 will no doubt be a veritable platform for demonstrating this paradigm shift and for sending out clear signals that it is no longer business as usual.”
On his part, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu, expressed optimism that the retreat will sharpen the skills of Permanent Secretaries for optimum service delivery.
He charged the Permanent Secretaries to shun all forms of corrupt practices and ensure accountability and transparency on the task ahead.
“As you are all aware the Present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, is anchored on the value of accountability, transparency, probity and prudence in the management of state resources.
“I charge you therefore as permanent secretaries and head of bureaucracy, to shun all forms of corrupt tendencies, you must ensure that you conduct all official matters in tandem with the provisions of the public procurement law,” Esu said.
The Deputy Governor, who represented Governor Ben Ayade, also congratulated Oyo-Ita and her team for the ongoing reforms in the Civil Service.
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu, was upbeat that the procurement retreat will place Nigeria among the comity of nations as regards to transparency with importance to procurement.
He thanked the Permanent Secretaries for the high turnout despite the busy schedule of the dignitaries.
Other dignitaries present at the retreat, include the Chairman Senate Committee on Procurement, Senator Joshua Dariye, Chairman House Committee on Procurement, Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Dan Asuquo and the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
