One Week After HCSF Lamentation, MDAs Vote N20 Million For Upgrade In Federal Secretariat Complex

By Matthew Ogune, Abuja

About one week after the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr. Folashade Yemi Esan lamented the deplorable state of toilet facilities in Nigeria’s Federal Secretariat, Ministries Departments and Agencies (MNDA) in the Federal Secretariat Phase-1 has earmarked twenty million naira (N20 Million).

This, we gathered will be used to upgrade facilities and improve hygiene of staff at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase-1.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Olusade Adesola disclosed this at the inauguration of the implementation committee in Abuja.

Yemi-Esan who had raised alarm over the deplorable state of hygiene facilities in the complex while on inspection recently in Abuja, enjoined all the Permanent Secretaries concerned to improve on the toilet facilities before her next visit.

Adesola who is also the Chairman of all engagements on COVID-19, said that the committee which had earlier been constituted following the outbreak of the virulent COVID-19 virus early this year, was to adopt hygiene procedures that will help to check the spreading of the virus among staff and also address related issues raised on the deplorable toilet facilities as noted by the Head of the Civil service of the Federation.

According to Adesola, following the prevalence of the Coronavirus infection, the lockdown and the expected return of designated staff, the HSCF issued directives to Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies at a recent service wide meeting held on-line for residence Ministries in the Secretariat Complex to optimize their hygiene level.

“This is why we had to review the initial preliminary arrangement of using hand sanitizer to deploying hand washing facilities at designated points to increase the chances of managing the spread of the Virus. Stakeholders also had a meeting, and decided to invite the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to reappraise the water supply problem within the complex and advice appropriately.

“The FCTA presented a proposal, which was reviewed and evaluated by the Permanent Secretaries and members of the committee. The total cost of the Project which includes upgrading and rehabilitating of high lifts pumps for water supply was put at N20 Million and this has been shared among the various MDA’s residence in the complex,” he said.

Speaking further, the Permanent Secretary said the action stage now is to inaugurate the implementation committee which responsibility is to monitor the progress in the implementation of the projects, ensure that payment to the project as agreed are made and also adopt strategies to address delays in the implementation of the project.

The committee which is chaired by Mr. Adeyemi Omotayo Director, General Services (GS) MNDA also include Mr Lawrence Adigwe (Director, Special Duties MNDA), Mr. Maurice Achibong (Director, HRM, Police Service Commission), Mrs. Mariam Funke Taiwo (Director GS. Min. of Aviation), Mallam Maishau Ibrahim (PA. to the PS. Aviation), Dr. Isaac Agbor (Head/Consultant Fed. Staff Clinic Phase-1) and Representative of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.