Ministers unfold agenda, bemoan cash crunch

[TGD]

 APPARENTLY living up to the charge of President Goodluck Jonathan that they should quickly settle down to work for the transformation of the nation, some new ministers unfolded their developmental agenda as they resumed duties yesterday.

But while Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubebe, is conscious of his responsibilities, he is equally aware that he might contend with inadequacy of funds in carrying out his mandate.

Orubebe, who has been at the helm of affairs at the ministry since the last administration, explained on assumption of office for a second time yesterday that though a lot of work was done on Niger Delta projects in the last administration, he could have done more but for inadequate funding.

According to him, "it takes a lot of resources and time to execute developmental projects planned for the Niger Delta region; and since the funds are slow in coming, contractors are also off the work in certain instances." He added that the ministry had put certain things on ground as regards the various projects such as the East-West road, the rail system and others but "what is lacking is the funding of the projects", he said.

He added that in 2010, N155 billion was budgeted for the ministry's activities and projects but it was cut down to N51 billion in 2011. He therefore suggested seeking means of alternative funding so that the development projects within the region could be completed in record time in order to enhance the commercial vibrancy of the region.

Giving an example of the East-West road, Orubebe said that the project was 10 per cent complete at the time he took over as minister but had now reached 51 per cent completion because he was able to call contractors back to the project.

He said work on the project should have reached 80 per cent if funds were available.

He added that some contractors were being owed billions of naira and such contractors would not continue on the project until they were paid. Also, on the nine training centres for youths which are being constructed in all the Niger Delta states, he said while each of them cost N5 billion, only N2 billion was available.

The minister also noted that out of the 15,000 youths taken for training, the ministry had only been able to train 1,200 because of the funding challenge.

On his part, Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, has expressed the commitment of the new administration to the development of the nation's rail infrastructure and bequeath to the country an efficient, effective and modern rail system.

Speaking when he resumed duties yesterday in Abuja, the minister said that his agenda in the new dispensation was to pursue and ensure the completion of all ongoing projects in the transport sector, particularly the completion of the remaining part of the dredging of the lower Niger.

He said: "I am happy to have been found worthy of being part of the transformation team. The president is committed to the transformation agenda and the ministry is key to achieving the goals. Mr. president had directed us to hit the ground running."

Suleiman noted that the ministry would also pursue maritime safety, ensure human capital development in the maritime sector through the training of seafarers as part of government's amnesty programme and job creation for the teeming youth of the country.

The minister observed that in view of the electoral promises made by   President Jonathan to transform the country, there was the need to kick-start the process of transformation in order to provide for Nigerians an alternative and affordable transport system with economic benefit and comparative advantage.

Suleiman who disclosed plans to start the dredging of the River Benue said: "We need to integrate the various modes of transportation to have a perfect linkage between our roads, waterways, rail lines and airports. No nation has ever developed without an effective and efficient inter-modal transport system."

Prior to his assumption of office yesterday, some stakeholders had tasked the minister to ensure that the nation's rail system was adequately repositioned to meet transport challenges in the country.

Specifically, they urged him to ensure that the rehabilitation of the nation's existing rail lines be concluded on time so as to help meet the challenges of the Millennium Development Goals.

Making reference to the recent review of the award of Lagos-Kano rail rehabilitation contract, one of the experts that spoke with The Guardian said the situation was avoidable.

According to him, if it takes two contractors more than two years to rehabilitate existing rail tracks that are not more than 1,128 kilometres, "how long then would we take to construct modern rail tracks as available in civilized countries of the world?"

One of the contractors handling the   rehabilitation of the 1,128km Lagos-Kano rail track reportedly withdrew from the project recently.

The re-appointed Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i assumed duties in Abuja with a pledge to push forward the reform process started during her previous tenure. The minister was in the same ministry for about a year before the recent cabinet dissolution.

At the formal takeover yesterday, Mrs. Rufa'i promised to focus more on creating access and enhancing the quality of education, implementation of the one year strategic plan as drawn from the education roadmap so that Nigerian youths could become employable on completion of their studies.

The minister addressed all the heads of parastatals and agencies under the ministry and solicited their cooperation with her administration.

The ministry's permanent secretary, Prof. Nicholas Damachi and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie in separate comments lauded President Jonathan for the re-appointment of the minister with a clear mandate of re-positioning the education sector.

While addressing the workers, the minister, who was accompanied to the ministry by her spouse, Dr. Ahmed Rufa'i Inuwa lauded the cordial relationship between her office and the workers, attributing her modest achievements to the co-operation she received from them. She described her re-assignment to the ministry as an act of God, saying she never thought she would come back to head the ministry.

According to her: "When I handed over a month ago I never imagined in my life that I would be found worthy to come back again. As a minister, people believed we have achieved a little. But it is a rare opportunity for which I owe a lot of gratitude to Mr. President for his consideration and my governor without whose recommendation I would not have made it."

She admitted that there were so many issues she left unresolved that she would like to tackle with urgency, noting that President Jonathan was desirous of having them strengthened out so that the nation could develop.

"Taking a retrospective look at our records, we discovered that there have been some lapses which we need to correct, especially in the implementation of the education roadmap, one year strategic plan and the outcome of the Presidential Task Team, which drew out the education master plan for the government.

"There are so many issues to be tackled within the ministry, which means we are here on business to turn things around within a short period of time so that things can change."



The Guardian