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MRA Inducts Federal Civil Service Commission into ‘FOI Hall of Shame’

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today inducted the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) into its “Freedom of Information (FOI) Hall of Shame”, accusing the Government’s oversight body for the civil service of an appalling record of non-compliance with the FOI Act.

 

In a statement in Lagos, Ms Morisola Alaba, MRA’s Legal Officer, catalogued a series of breaches of various provisions of the FOI Act by the Commission over the last six years that the Act has been in operation, and called on the Presidency to intervene in the matter as the Commission oversees the Government’s engine room and could hamper its ability to implement its programmes and activities or to deliver on its mandate, which include instituting transparency and accountability in government and eradicating corruption in Nigeria.

 

Established by Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as a Federal Executive Body, the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) is empowered to appoint persons to offices in the Federal Civil Service and to dismiss or exercise disciplinary control over persons holding such offices.

 

Ms Alaba said: “It is difficult to see how the Federal Civil Service Commission can, with any sort of credibility, exercise disciplinary control over persons holding offices in the Federal Civil Service for instance, for contravening extant public service rules and regulations, while the Commission itself is in violation of an existing Law such as the Freedom of Information Act.”

 

According to Ms Alaba, “Going by the clear and persistent disregard of the FOI Act by the Commission since the Law came into force, one can say without fear of contradiction that the claim by the Commission that its vision is to build a corps of highly focused, disciplined, committed and patriotic Civil Service totally dedicated to supporting the Government in the development of a strong, united and virile Nigeria, is untrue.”

 

Justifying the Commission’s induction into FOI Hall of Shame, MRA noted that since the passage of the FOI Act in 2011, the FCSC has failed to submit a single annual report to the Attorney-General of Federation, as required by section 29 (1) of the FOI Act, which has also made it impossible to determine how responsive the Commission has been to requests for information from members of the public.

 

It also cited the failure of the Commission to publish on its website or any other public platform the title and address of the appropriate officer to whom applications for information under the FOI Act should be made, as required by Section 2(3) (f) of the Act.

 

MRA noted that despite the express provisions of the Law, over the last six years since the FOI Act has been in operation, there is no indication that the commission has organized any training for its staff or officials to sensitize them on the public’s right of access to information or records held by government or to equip the relevant personnel with the knowledge and skills to effectively implement the Act, as required by Section 13.

 

It observed that the Commission has proactively disclosed applicable regulations and guidelines as well as the functions of each division and department of the institution on its website as required under Section 2 of the Act.

 

However, MRA said the Commission has consistently failed to proactively disclose information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of the institution, information containing applications for any contracts made by or between the institution and another public institution, as well as the names, salaries, title and dates of employment of all employees and officers of the institution; and other information which it is obliged to disclose in accordance with Section 2 of the Act.

 

Ms Alaba noted that “It is unfortunate that the agency which oversees what is practically the engine room of the Federal Government is widely perceived as a place where irregularities and lack of due process are rife, and indeed the graveyard of so many failed governments.”

 

According to her, “This appalling reputation of the Federal Civil Service Commission is not helped by the recent FOI Rankings of Public Institutions in Nigeria published by the Public and Private Development Centre which indicates that the Commission is among Nigeria’s top public institutions violating the provisions of the FOI Act.”

 

Ms Alaba said in the light of the terrible record of the Commission, it is necessary for the Presidency to intervene in the matter because as the supervisory body for the engine room of government, the Commission is essential to the government’s ability to implement its programmes and activities as well as delivering on its mandate, including ensuring transparency and accountability in government and eradicating corruption in Nigeria.

 

Launched on July 3, 2017, the FOI Hall of Shame shines the spotlight on public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the FOI Act through their actions, inactions, utterances and decisions.

 

 


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TEDxPAU 2024: Exploring New Possibilities and Shaping Tomorrow

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TEDxPAU 2024 brought together some of the brightest minds and boldest voices on November 16th at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School. With over 500 attendees eager to explore new possibilities, the event’s theme, ‘Shaping the Future,’ set the tone for a day filled with inspiration, reflection, and transformative ideas.

The day opened with a TED talk by TED founder Chris Anderson, followed by welcome remarks from the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo. She encouraged the audience to embrace the theme, saying, “The future is now, and it is up to all of us to join hands to shape tomorrow.”

The sessions featured inspiring talks from visionaries like Akose Enebeli, who emphasized sustainable urban living by “building upwards instead of outwards,” and Goodnews Igwe, who stressed that creating value is key to success.

Temitope Runsewe championed Africa’s family values as a foundation for economic recovery, describing family businesses as “the future of Nigeria.” Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, advocated for affordable education to drive literacy and digital skills, while Michael Oluwagbemi sparked intrigue with his bold statement that “CNG is the new garri,” promoting energy innovation.

Ziad Maalouf shared leadership insights, underscoring personal growth as the key to scaling success.

Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President at Heifer International, spoke about the significance of scaling innovation from the inside out, urging organizations to embrace change-driven solutions. Dr. Peter Bamkole, Deputy Vice Chancellor of PAU, described entrepreneurship as “a catalyst for systemic change,” calling for the transformation of problems into solutions with far-reaching impact.

Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who shared his journey from adversity to global success, inspired the audience to embrace their gifts and believe in limitless possibilities.

The event ended with a fireside chat between TEDxPAU organizer Bella Victor and Dr. Maduka, who spoke about the importance of legacy and purpose. He encouraged attendees to see themselves as part of Nigeria’s solution and to embrace both the challenges and triumphs of the country’s journey.

Beyond the talks, TEDxPAU 2024 captivated attendees with musical performances, a spoken word piece, and a high-energy dance performance by different talents from the university.

The event also recognized its sponsors and volunteers, thanking them for their critical role in making the day a success.

In his closing remarks, Bella Victor expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating: “TEDxPAU was founded with the goal of giving back to this incredible school and creating a 360-degree impact—supporting our students, raising awareness for our school, and giving innovators a platform to reach a global audience. It’s inspiring to see how this event has grown and how each of you have played a part in that mission today. I thank our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and every attendee who believed in this vision. Together, we are shaping the future.”

Attendees also enjoyed networking opportunities during breaks, sponsor exhibitions, and a private lunch for VIP ticket holders, who engaged in deeper conversations with the speakers about shaping tomorrow.

TEDxPAU 2024 once again reaffirmed its commitment to “ideas worth spreading” and left attendees inspired to take action. For recordings of the event and updates on future editions, stay tuned.


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Head of Civil Service Celebrates 100 Days in Office with the Launch of Galaxy Backbone’s “Govmail”

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In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s public service, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, MINI, today marked her 100 days in office and officially launched three digital services platforms for the Civil Service.

These include, Govmail, ServiceWise GPT and the Federal Civil Service Online Portal. These platforms, underscore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to enhancing digital governance and driving innovation across the nation’s Federal Civil Service.

Govmail, an email platform developed and powered by Galaxy Backbone (GBB) is an innovative solution set to enhance communication, boost efficiency, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation journey within the public sector.

Speaking at a meeting where the Govmail Interface was first officially presented and demonstrated to her, the Head of Civil Service expressed her excitement about the platform, stating, “GBB’s Govmail is unbelievably WOW!

This is a game-changer for our nation’s civil service, streamlining communication and creating a secure path to other government digital services. With Govmail, we are truly embracing the future of digital governance.”

Govmail is a secure, Nigeria-centric email platform designed by a team from Galaxy Backbone, exclusively for public service professionals. It ensures that all official communication are seamlessly managed while safeguarding Nigeria’s data sovereignty. The initiative emerged as a key outcome of the Digitalisation War Room, established by Mrs. Walson- Jack, to drive the implementation of cutting-edge digital solutions in government.

Commenting on this milestone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, shared, “We are immensely proud to have developed this revolutionary platform, ensuring that every Nigerian civil servant has access to a robust and secure communication channel.

Govmail is not just about email—it’s about enabling productivity, efficiency, and sovereignty in governance. Galaxy Backbone remains committed to driving the digital transformation of Nigeria’s public sector.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo emphasized the strategic importance of the Govmail for the nation’s Civil Service stating that “Govmail significantly reduces the government’s reliance on foreign email platforms, cutting costs and addressing licensing challenges. This is a commendable achievement by the Head of Service and the leadership of Galaxy Backbone.”

Through GBB’s dedicated efforts, Govmail will rapidly roll out email accounts to over 70,000 Federal civil servants across Nigeria, ensuring every government professional is equipped with a secure communication platform in record time. This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal of leveraging technology to build a digitally driven and globally competitive public service.


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Senate Approves New $2.2Bn External Borrowing for Nigeria

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The Senate has approved the new external borrowing plan request of $2.2 billion presented for consideration by President Bola Tinubu.

Senate Approves New $2.2Bn External Borrowing for Nigeria

The approval followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at the plenary session on Thursday.

The report was presented by the Sen. Aliyu Wammako, chairman of the Committee.

President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday, Nov 19, in separate letters to both chambers of the National Assembly, requested approval of a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan to part fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget .

Senate upon receipt of the request, mandated its committee on local and foreign debts to expeditiously ensure further legislative inputs on the request and report back within 24 hours.

Presenting the committee‘s report, Wammako said the presidential request was very necessary for approval.

He said the loan request would be utilised for execution of ongoing projects and programmes in the 2024 appropriation act , saying that the projects were critical for national growth and development.

“It will contribute to the implementation of the debt management strategy, which seeks to reduce the cost of borrowing.

” It will lengthen maturity of the public debt stock, free – up space in the domestic market for other borrowers, and help increase Nigeria’s external reserves .” Wammako said Nigeria could raise all or part of the 2.2billion dollars through the issuance of Eurobonds in the International Capital Market ( ICM) .

Wammako thereafter is recommended as follows:

“That the Senate do approve the implementation of the new external borrowing of 2.2 billion dollars at the budget exchange rate of one dollars to N800 in the 2024 appropriation act and that the amount should be raised from one or more sources.

“Namely, issuance of eurobonds in the ICM, issuance of debut sovereign Sukuk in the ICM, and bridge, syndicated loans, subject to market conditions.”

The report was thereafter unanimously approved via an affirmative voice vote.

In his remarks after the approval, Senator Jibrin Barau, deputy president of the Senate, who presided plenary, commended the Wammako led committee for a job well done.


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