… As NAFDAC seals warehouse over alleged harmful chemicals***

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha on Thursday, inaugurated a sub-committees for the implementation of government white paper on restructuring and rationalisation of parastatals, agencies and commissions.

Mustapha, who inaugurated the committees, said the event had cleared doubts of most Nigerians who might have considered it a seemingly intractable challenge in the country’s drive to evolve sustainable governance.

Represented by Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the federation, Mustapha added that the event also signalled solid architecture for effective service delivery by the public service.

” I want to sincerely thank all of you for agreeing to serve on these committees.

“As you are aware, various administrations have been concerned with different aspects of the governance of the public service of Nigeria.

“And one of these areas has always been the increasing cost of governance without seeming concurrent productivity in the quality of service delivery.

“This had led to a number of reforms, some of which achieved their objectives, others did not while some were either truncated or not implemented at all, ” he said.

He, however, said it was heart-warming that some of the recent reforms and strategies being put in place had begun to show the potential of yielding desired results.

“Worthy of immediate mention is the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021 to 2025 and its

associated Revised Public Service Rules (PSR) as well as the introduction of Performance Management System (PMS).

According to him, it is in a bid to address this, amongst others, that the committee on the “Restructuring and Rationalization” of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies were constituted on Aug.18, 2011, and submitted its report on April 16, 2012.

“The report recommended that of the 541 Statutory and Non-Statutory Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions, 263 statutory agencies should be reduced to 161, while 38 agencies should be abolished.

“52 agencies should be merged, and 14 should revert back to departments in ministries.

“Subsequently, the white paper on the report was issued and published in March 2014 and was followed by the white paper implementation committee inaugurated in May 2014, ” he said.

In her response, Ms Amal Pepple, a former Head of Service of the federation (HOCSF), who heads one of the committees, thanked the federal government on behalf of other members for the opportunity given to them to serve the nation.

According to her, the challenge given to them to provide a solution has been lingering for a long time.

“I want to give glory to God for making today possible because the challenge we have been called upon to try and provide solution for has been lingering for a long time, ” she said.

She, however, pledged to deliver its task within the six weeks duration approved by the federal government.

The newsmen report that the two committees are chaired by both former HOCSF, Mr Goni Aji, and Ms Amal Pepple.

In the meantime, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday sealed a warehouse and arrested the owner over alleged unguarded sales of harmful chemicals.

The Kano State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Shaba Muhammed, told journalists that the deadly chemicals included Sulphuric acid, caustic soda, hydraulic acid, hydrogen peroxide, among others.

According to Shaba, before a person engages in the sale of such substances, one needs training and certification on the handling and storage of such chemicals.

“Besides, the location of the warehouse needed to be inspected,” he said.

He said that the warehouse was situated in Sabon Gari residential area.

The coordinator appealed to residents to watch out for such a warehouse and report to the authorities to avoid unexpected calamities.

He added that the suspect was currently in NAFDAC custody and would be handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution soon.