Works and Environment Ministries are part of the core MDAs that the present administration relies upon to deliver its transformation agenda programmes. It is not by happenstance that the two ministries are located sideby- side in Mabushi district of Abuja, they have both, in addition to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, remained as one ministry before being severed into three.
As for any government all over the world, the two ministries under review stand tall in the delivery of quality life to the people. For instance, while no meaningful development can take place in any human society without consideration to environmental sustainability, a good road network boosts the economy of any nation. However, while efforts are being made to improve on the quality of service at the Ministry of Works, that cannot be said of the Environment Ministry.
For instance, from a physical structure point of view, the Ministry of Works is undergoing amazing transformation. The old 2-storey building of two blocks is wearing a new look both in its interior and the exterior. Even though the exercise might have been designed and commenced by his predecessors, it is to the credit the present minister, Arc Mike Onolememen that the projects are being carried through.
Anyone who visited the ministry about three or four years ago and now goes there again would think he has lost his way. From the newly constructed gate manned by security personnel, to the various offices, there has been massive transformation.
A few staff of the ministry who spoke with our correspondent expressed their happiness about the ongoing facility upgrade, but regretted the almost like of internet facilities in the ministry.
For instance, a source in the ministry who pleaded anonymity, commended the minister for giving the two offices a face-lift, while also urging the management to replicate the effort in the provision of information technology facilities. According to him, a ministry like Works which does a lot of designs cannot but keep abreast and take the advantage of ICT, not only in the conception of ideas but also in delivery of such. He said," What we have witnessed in the ministry in terms of having a befitting office is worthy of commendation.
Even though the present minister cannot be credited for the conception of the idea of giving the two blocks of offices a facelift, he surely must be praised for ensuring its continuity.
"The new status of the buildings gives us a sense of pride and it is also capable of boosting the moral of workers. A dingy office environment could be a disincentive to work. It is however, my wish that this same effort is replicated in the provision of ICT equipment. Apart from the fact that we need a stand-by generator to power the activities in the ministry, a situation where there is no workable internet facility is a minus, irrespective of the gains recorded in other areas."
However, it is a different ball game in the Ministry of Environment. The building has remained the same since it was built more than a decade ago, not to talk of the luxury of internet facilities. Some of the staff blamed the situation on poor allocation to the ministry.
They said, unlike some other ministries, their own is not a contract awarding ministry. However, an Abuja based Public Affairs Analyst; Mr.Bayo Okodigba punctured this line of argument, insisting that no ministry in the country could be so poor as to not be able to afford provision of basic facilities that would support smooth running of its daily activities.
According to him, some of the ministers, both past and present, are unable to provide good working environment for their workers because of greed and avarice. "Although some ministries are stronger than the others in that while some award contracts, and can in the process, get certain influence which they can use to advantage, others are mere policy making bodies. In this case, you can compare the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Works. The difference in terms of influence is very massive. "However, you can also not divulge leadership from all this.
A ministry that is driven by purposeful and visionary leadership is sure to perform irrespective of the funds available to it. Some of the ministers, in conjunction with their permanent secretaries collude to siphon monies met for basic office operations," he said
Source: From the Civil Service: Works/Environment: Assessing service delivery quality, infrastructure standards (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/from-the-civil-service-worksenvironment-assessing-service-delivery-quality-infrastructure-standards/)
All this things must be in place for a country to grow. I totally agree with this one.
Makes a lot of sense!