The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Engr. Goni M. Sheikh has explained that all the three tiers of Government in Nigeria, statutorily access their respective shares of the ecological fund every month as part of their revenue allocations; and that the fund as we know it today, is an interventionist facility set up by the Federal Government to solely manage the federal share of the fund.
The Permanent Secretary made this explanation on Thursday, 16th of March, 2013 during an interactive session with a team from the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on an official visit to his Office, to seek clarification on myriads of complaints received from many communities across the country, for failure to get their ecological problems addressed after applying for intervention of the fund.
Explaining further, the Permanent Secretary said that the fund is set up by the Federal Government to address serious ecological problems that are beyond the capacities of States and Local Governments. He therefore advised such affected communities to first approach their local and state governments on their immediate problems before approaching the fund.
Engr. Goni used the occasion to throw light on the workings of the ecological fund, making it known that apart from the National Emergency Management Agency that derives its funding from the fund, the Federal Government also use the fund during national emergencies as witnessed last year when many parts of the country experienced flood disasters with its attendant consequences.
He also mentioned the first phase of the Presidential Initiative on Afforestation, has approved N10b naira which was used to fund the works of the 15 south East soil erosion and flood control projects and the recent Great Green Wall Project.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government has received commendation nationally and internationally for this and they are some of the examples of special projects that the fund is used to address.
The Permanent Secretary who regretted that most of the criticisms of the fund are from quarters which wrongly believe that the Federal Government is solely allocated all the money set aside for addressing ecological problems in the country said this is not so.
He also told the visitors that requests for intervention often come from States, Local Governments, Communities, Organisations, and that EFO after working on these requests then forward them for the consideration of the National Committee on Ecological Problems (NCEP), an Inter-ministerial Committee, which is the highest decision making body on ecological issues, which subsequently vets and sends its recommendation to Mr. President for approval.
The leader of the team from the Public Complaints Commission, Mr. Thomas Ojong, an Assistant Director of Investigation, thanked the Permanent Secretary for agreeing to the convening of the interactive session, which he described as very educative and enlightening; and observed that the interaction has placed his Commission in a vantage position of knowledge to adequately respond to the complainants of the communities.
The meeting which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary has in attendance, the Director, Drought and Desertification Control, Mr. Kola Oluwatuyi, the Director, Pollution Control, Mr. Siyakasai and other management staff.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria