TECHNOCRAT MEDIA, Akure
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Ondo state government have traded words over an executive order signed by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to provide a legal stand for the State Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU) to operate.
Ondo State PDP alleges that the ‘Executive Order’ was signed to provide legal cover for the illegal appointment of his son, Babajide as Director-General of Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU).
PDP said: The Executive Order amongst other provisions states, ” All MDAs of Ondo State Government shall process approvals for projects through the Impact Assurance Process of PPIMU as constituted by this Order.”
On the other hand, the commissioner for information, Donald Ojogo described PDP’s statement on the ‘Executive Order’ as a misfire from the opposition.
The full statements below>
AKEREDOLU’S MISRULE IN ONDO STATE (14): SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO MAKE SON APPROVING AUTHORITY TO ALL MDAS.
By Kennedy Ikantu Peretei.
As Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN celebrates his fifth year anniversary as Governor of Ondo State this week, the only question on many lips is, “Is this how things will continue to be in Ondo State”? My own response is to salute the people of the Sunshine State for their perseverance and endurance for these past five years of torture and pain. Whereas there is no sign that, things can ever get better under the incumbent administration, happenings within the government point to tougher times and ridicule for even those who hitherto considered themselves as privileged by virtue of their appointments.
The Governor has just signed an Executive Order to provide legal cover for the illegal appointment of his son, Babajide as Director-General of Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU). The Executive Order amongst other provisions states, ” All MDAs of Ondo State Government shall process approvals for projects through the Impact Assurance Process of PPIMU as constituted by this Order”. As if to cover for the incompetence and lack of experience of the son to discharge such responsibilities demanded by his office, the Order states further The operational Head of PPIMU appointed by the Governor of Ondo State shall be the Director-General/Special Adviser (DG/SA) and shall be supported by a professional corp of officers in various categories to be recruited from within and outside of the civil service.
On a good day, when a Governor signs an Executive Order for the good of the people, it is done with funfair, but this particular one was secretly signed because of the implications for the government. It is an Order that has finally reduced Honourable State Commissioners, some of them accomplished in their various fields to submit projects from their Ministries for approval to Mr Governor’s son, who will, in turn, depend on “professional Corp of officers” to give such approvals before Almighty Mr. Governor appends his signature with the red pen. Governance has never been reduced to such a laughable extent in the history of the state.
Perhaps, it may be necessary to explain how Dr. Olusegun Agagu came up with the idea of the Projects and Price Monitoring Unit (PPMU) attached to the Governor’s Office in 2003. It was to serve as a check on contractors that quoted bogus figures for government projects or items to be procured by the government. The Unit provided information that enabled the government benchmark prices. At that time, the Unit was headed by a Chartered Accountant with several decades of experience to his credit.
When Dr. Olusegun Mimiko became Governor, realising that, the Unit helped the government to save funds, he decentralised the Unit to three Senatorial Districts, each District headed by a Senior Special Assistant. There was no need for a swearing-in ceremony. PPMU was not an approving authority under previous administrations that Akeredolu copied this practice from.
When Mr. Governor realised that, there was no legal framework for the appointment of a DG for PPIMU, he had to resort to Executive Order to legitimise an illegality. Outside of its illegality, what will be the job of career civil servants in various ministries, some of whom parade professional certificates. They will now all be at the mercy of a young man who has never worked anywhere all his life.
This deliberate destruction of the civil service and humiliation of the top echelon of the political class is a time bomb that will consume the Akeredolu administration as a matter of course.
This series will continue shortly.
Press Statement
On Executive Order, PDP Misfired
Though it came not as a surprise, the opposition PDP’s latest misadventure in respect of an Executive Order signed by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN manifested two things: it is either gross lack of knowledge about public governance or another failed but usually warped twist to misinform the populace.
Both inferences are uncanny even as they represent all that connote ignorance. This response, therefore, requires subtly educating the opposition on the essence of institutional frameworks for good governance.
Yes, the Executive Order in reference is an official document duly signed by the Governor. But was it signed with the Governor’s son in mind? NO. Will PPIMU commence and end with the Governor’s son? NO. Was there an institution like PPIMU as presently enunciated before now? NO. Does PPIMU form part of an enduring Government legacy intended to engender and deepen good governance in tandem with the ever-changing governance environment? YES. Are there other bodies in the mould of PPIMU in various states across Nigeria? YES, of course.
The churned mischief assaults logic; it similarly, carries the burden of a self-kill that the PDP admits the existence of such institutions under previous administrations. This is agreeable, only to the extent that indeed, Due Process Offices (what is now called the Bureau for Public Procurement) existed. Under the current administration, it still suffices with defined roles with unfettered responsibilities within its areas of operation.
It, therefore, appears illogical to consider improvements aimed at strengthening our public governance capacities within the prism of challenged political confines. By implication, what the opposition party has said in simple terms is: “let’s remain static and not run with the changing times”.
As a responsible government, we will not solve today’s problems, especially in public governance, with yesterday’s solutions. PPIMU has come to stay. It is not the baby of an individual. It is an initiative to drive service delivery and enhance efficiency in public service.
It must be noted too, that, with PPIMU serving as a warehouse for quality service, excellence and efficiency, Government has set a marketable standard for Peer Review. We cannot afford to play the ostrich in an ever-changing and dynamic world.
The public, especially the Ondo State Public Service is enjoined to ignore the fruitless effort of the PDP at incitement. They misfired. A political party that does not know the difference between ‘process for approvals through’ and ‘seek approval from’ has no business in the affairs of men.
Signed
Donald Ojogo
Commissioner for Information and Orientation
Ondo State
February 21, 2022
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