From Asiodu, Tugbobo, an offer to assist govt overhaul capacity

The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS), has harped on the need for Federal Government to fast track some of the ongoing corruption cases, particularly prominent ones and see them through the court to logical conclusion.

The council, which comprises eminent Nigerians like Chief Philip Asiodu, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, Mr. Abdul’Talib Umar and Dr. Goke Adegoroye among others, also said this was the right time for the country to deregulate the oil sector because Nigerians were already buying fuel at abnormal and variant prices from one part of the country to another.

Briefing the media during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) over the weekend on the outcome of the meeting between the Council and the President, which held in Aso Rock Villa recently, leaders of the delegation, Otunba Adeoye Tugbobo and Chief Asiodu said one of the high points made was their offer to assist the government to overhaul the capacity and corruption challenges of the civil service.

According to Chief Asiodu, who was the foundation Chairman and Chairman Board of Trustees of CORFEPS, “If the government could fast track to conclusion some on going corruption cases with appropriate verdict delivered, this would go a long way to convincing Nigerians, and indeed the international community about its seriousness and determination to fight corruption.”

To CORFEPS many Nigerians still doubt the administration’s courage to fight corruption because none of the affected people has been penalized or seen through the courts.

On deregulation, Chief Asiodu said CORFEPS made Mr. President to realize there had been a lot of issues around the idea over the years, saying: “The argument that the poor will be made to suffer the more if Nigeria deregulate the oil sector may not be so because Nigerians are currently buying fuel at exorbitant rates across the country. This is the right time to take a strong decision on deregulation.”

He added that the Council also deliberated on the issue of foreign exchange with the President, saying: “The matter is very critical and the government must look into it based on our economy and political situation.”

Chief Asiodu also said the delegation further interacted with President Buhari on the need to produce sufficient power generation and distribution in the country and as well boost the nation’s agriculture and infrastructure base, “these three issues are very crucial and he (Mr. President) has to concentrate on them with the aim of achieving something within the short period of time to enable him prove to Nigerians he was capable of fulfilling on his promises.”

Chief Asiodu said the delegation emphasized on the need for the country to develop a vision plan if it aimed to move forward, saying: “It is imperative of Nigeria to have a serious and acceptable vision for the country, without that money comes and disappeared. We need to create an implementable vision plan.”

Otunba Tugbobo said the council also deliberated on the need to facilitate a solid cooperation between the civil service and politicians “we made President Buhari to realise the important position of civil servants as key to development because politicians come and go but the civil servants are always there.

“To this end we suggested the need to carry out a search research for good ones among the civil service, which our council offers to help based on our past experiences.”

Explaining the aims and objectives of the council and its concern over the state of the nation, the chairman, Mrs. Emanuel said, “The primary objectives of CORFEPS are to serve as a platform for engaging in meaningful discussion of relevant issues of national development, including matters pertaining to the public service; carry out periodic assessment of the overall performance of the nation and offering constructive advice, restore and maintain the role of the Civil Service as a non-partisan organ to serve the government and the nation and to enhance continuous interaction among retired Federal Permanent Secretaries and promoting the welfare of members.”

Dr. Adegoroye, who is the national publicity secretary of the Council, posited that no nation can rise beyond the capacity of its public service neither can any nation rise beyond the integrity of its public service. “Our vision was to support this administration and offer it advice on how to move this nation forward through an efficient public service, which is the engine of government.

“There is the need to carry along both the private and pubic sector if the country must progress. Whatever policies we make must be implemented by some people and if we do not have the right people at the helm of affairs, particularly in the public service to regulate the activities of the private sector and ensure the success of government policies the country will not progress. That is the reason we are volunteering to offer assistance in the area of re-engineering the public service.”