'70% of Finance Ministry Staff Unqualified'
From Kunle Aderinokun in Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Finance has disclosed that 70 per cent of its 1,560 staff are not qualified to work in the ministry as they have only secondary and primary school leaving certificates.
The ministry in a statement signed by Mr. Paul Nwabui-kwu, Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, noted that 44 per cent of the work force possess secondary school certificates while 26 per cent only have primary school leaving certificates.
The ministry stated that only 124 of the work force representing eight per cent have relevant professional qualifications.
Thirteen per cent of the lot possess university degree while four per cent have Higher National Diploma (HND). Another 13 per cent have Ordinary Diplomas or equivalent.
The figures formed part of the findings of the committee on Restructuring and Reprofes-sionalisation of the Federal Ministry of Finance headed by the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Esther Usman. The committee in December 2003, conducted a review of the entire staff structure of the ministry.
The ministry further noted that given this scenario, "the Committee on Reprofessiona-lisation has made many recommendations on various aspects of its operations. These recommendations, it said, have been presented to the President, the Head of Service and the Bureau of Public Service Reform, among other individuals and groups and the Federal Civil Service.
The statement disclosed that many of the committee's recommendations have been appro-ved by President Olusegun Obasanjo. "Among these are the plan to professionalise the ministry through re-training and hiring of the right quality of staff to realize its vision of being the "number one service ministry," the ministry pointed out in the statement.
In addition, the ministry said one of the recommendations approved was, "the de-pooling of the ministry, a policy which will give the ministry greater control to hire and fire rather than the current practice of recruiting all staff through the office of Head of Service."
The implication, the ministry explained, was that, "staff can now build their careers within the ministry," noting however that, "the proposal to restructure the departments of the ministry in line with NEEDS has also been given the go-ahead."
Similarly, the ministry stated that it would next week conduct a parade for all its staff for the months of July and August 2004. This, it explained, was "part of its multi-dimensional reform programme."
During these two months, all members of staff will collect salaries physically in cash after screening and verification of relevant documents.
The statement indicated that the exercise also affects the Budget Office of the Federation, which is under the ministry.
A circular signed by Dr. J.O. Omotosho on behalf of Okonjo-Iweala had stated that for the pay parade, each staff will be required to present: original copy of letter of first appointment; letter of last promotion; original credentials and certificates; and copies of current passport photographs.
The circular had warned that, "officers who fail to present themselves for the exercise may be considered as ghost workers".
According to the statement, "the pay parade is the latest initiative in the Finance Ministry's process of restructuring which is designed to improve efficiency and productivity and position it better to handle new challenges."
|
