“My attention has recently been drawn to an ensuing trend of misuse and abuse in the implementation of the Monetisation Policy as it pertains to use of pool vehicles. A number of Ministers, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries have allocated fleet of vehicles to their offices and in so doing, for their personal use.”
OUTRAGED by total disregard for the core values of the monetisation policy of his administration, President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused Ministers, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries of sabotaging the waste-control mechanism.
Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero hinted at the weekend that Police would soon go after the affected officials, who might have flouted this national policy, introduced as part of the public service reforms.
The President, who got intelligence report of non-compliance with the regulations on monetisation as it concerns use of government vehicles; had earlier conveyed his frustration to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Head of Service, Chief Ufot Joseph Ekaette and Alhaji Yayale Ahmed respectively.
In a January 19, 2006, letter dripping with anger, the President said his recent discovery of the sabotage “is a disturbing trend considering that it is being perpetrated by Senior government officials.”
Entitled: “Infraction of Monetisation Policy as it pertains to use of Government Vehicles”, and received on January 20, 2006, the letter reads in part:
“My attention has recently been drawn to an ensuing trend of misuse and abuse in the implementation of the Monetisation Policy as it pertains to use of pool vehicles. A number of Ministers, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries have allocated fleet of vehicles to their offices and in so doing, for their personal use.”
The President also drew attention to yet another anomaly in the implementation of the policy. “Some Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Senior Officials have continued to use Federal Government number plates on cars, which were sold to them. Others have simply continued to use such vehicles without number plates on them.”
The alarmed President noted: “This is a disturbing trend considering that it is being perpetrated by Senior Government Officials. I have, therefore, thought it necessary to personally write and call attention to the fact that the Monetisation Policy remains a cardinal component of the current Economic Reform Agenda of this Administration.”
The President noted that the SGF and the Head of Service had conveyed to them the regulations his new letter addressed.
His words: “Indeed, all aspects of this policy have been well encapsulated in various Service-wide Circulars issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Service. For the avoidance of doubt, you may wish to note relevant sections in Circular Ref. No. SGF.19/S.47/C.1/II/351 of 16th March 2004 issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
The March 2004 Circular contains the following directives and regulations:
No official vehicle and driver are to be attached to Ministers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Permanent Secretaries even though each Ministry is allowed to maintain a pool of utility vehicles.
No utility vehicle is to be assigned permanently to any Minister, Special Adviser, Senior Special Assistant or Permanent Secretary. Such vehicles are to be assigned to them as well as other Senior Officers as their duties warrant.
Ministers and other entitled officers are not to use pilot vehicles and sirens within Abuja. Such vehicles can only be used when they have cause to embark on official duties outside Abuja.
The Circular noted that “only the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory by virtue of the peculiar nature of his office has been exempted from the above restrictions.
The President directed that, “finally, all official government number plates used on private cars should be immediately returned and the status of such vehicles as well as those being used without number plates to be regularised.”
He also directed that “all Ministers, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries must comply strictly with the contents of this circular and ensure same by their staff.”
In the accompanying note, the SGF underscored the seriousness the President accords the current directive to all the Ministers, Head of Service, Advisers and Chief Executives of Commissions, Parastatals, Agencies and Government Owned Companies.
He said: “A unit has been established in this office to monitor compliance and report defaulters to Mr President.”