Report from Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
As part of efforts of the Federal Government to improve the functionality of Local Government Administration in Nigeria, the committee to review the Scheme of Service for the employees of Local Government in Nigeria has been inaugurated on Monday.
While inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki said, the review of the scheme of service for Local Government employees has been long overdue and that the re-establishment of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs by President Goodluck Jonathan in February, 2013 has brought it to the fore.
He stressed that that the review was borne out of the existing collaboration between the Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) under the “Strengthening Nigeria’s Local Government and Local Development Programme.”
The Minister stated further that the committee was to ensure that the Scheme of Service for Local Government Employees was reviewed in line with what obtains in the Federal Civil Service and with global standards. This effort, according to him would in no small measure help to curb rural-urban drift of manpower.
Members of the Committee include Alhaji Umaru Ambursa, who was not at the inauguration on permission, as Chairman; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr. Taiye Haruna; whilst the others are Mr. Kehinde Adeyemi, Barr. Halidu Ibrahim, Hon. Chief Dan Egbeogu, Prince Nja Nkang Abang, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abubakar, Malam Ibrahim Musa, Alhaji Olatunde Okewole, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, Mr. Oluyori Aguda and the Director Inter-Governmental Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Dr. Rufai Kawu Attahiru who doubles as a member and Secretary of the Committee.
The committee’s terms of reference are:
1. To review the current Scheme of Service (2006 edition);
2. To liaise with the Establishment Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to incorporate approved cadres in the Scheme of Service and;
3. To produce a draft copy of Local Government Scheme of Service.
However, the Minister charged the Committee to complete its assignment in earnest to enable the Ministry present the documents for validation by stakeholders during the Commonwealth Local Government Forum/UNDP supported conference coming up in June, 2014.
While responding at the inauguration, Chief Dan Egbeogu, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Abia State noted that since the assumption of Alhaji Turaki as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, the Local Government has witnessed remarkable improvements. He further said that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has shown himself as a worker-friendly President.
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