The
Federal Government on Monday threatened to sanction errant boards of
River Basin Development Authorities that failed to abide by stipulated
operational mandates.
The boards of the various RBDAs were
inaugurated in May 2013 shortly after their reconstitution by President
Goodluck Jonathan in April.
The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs.
Sarah Ochekpe, however, said the boards had failed to pursue the mandate
of their organisations as contained in the Act setting up the RBDAs,
the transformation agenda of the Federal Government and other extant
policies and procedures.
She spoke during a retreat for the
boards and management of the RBDAs organised by the Federal Ministry of
Water Resources in Abuja.
Ochekpe said, “Some of the reports I
have been receiving indicate that the modalities, rules and procedures
in the exercise of the mandate of the boards are being interpreted
differently from one RBDA to the other. This is especially as they
affect powers of the board and powers of the management in procurement,
appointment, promotion, discipline, fund disbursement, welfare packages
and several other issues.
“In some instances, the interpretations
of these mandates have been completely against the spirit of setting up
the boards, which are meant to assist us in the repositioning of the
RBDAs to play increased role in the efforts of the ministry in water
resources development to enhance rural water supply, and the management
of irrigated agriculture to boost food production and food security in
country.
“What seems to be emerging in some RBDAs
is the contest for superiority between the boards and managements, and
sometimes with the ministry in the area of contract awards, project
management, appointments, bloated welfare packages and other
administrative issues.”
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