Dr Isah Pantami, minister of Communications, has told the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of parastatals under the Ministry as well as the Directors of the Ministry that henceforth, their performance will be evaluated on a monthly basis.
He has therefore set targets for them to achieve so as to significantly improve the level of their performance to reflect the Next Level paradigm of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He spoke during his extensive meetings with and briefings by the various CEOs, which took place over a period of one week at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
He assured the CEOs of the Federal Government’s support as they discharge their duties and reminded them of his commitment to sanction any parastatal that fails to step up its performance. The CEOs were thereafter given numerous targets.
While Galaxy Backbone Plc was mandated to improve the reach and coverage of its services in the public sector; significantly improve the quality of services provided, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was urged to bring to an end the issue of sales of pre-registered, unregistered and partially-registered SIM cards, especially as this can help in reducing numerous security challenges the nation faces; stem the tide of illegal deduction of the data of subscribers and work towards the downward review of the cost of data; and ensure compliance with the maximum two per cent Call Drop Rate directive to telecom operators.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited was expected to significantly improve its level of visibility across the country; and ensure great improvement in the quality of its services.
Pantami also said the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) must ensure an appreciable improvement in the efficiency of its letter and parcel delivery service; and; increase the effective area of its coverage in the country while urging
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) from where he was appointed into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to have a greater level of focus on increasing local content development and patronage in the hardware and software sub-sectors; strengthen the execution of its IT project clearance mandate to capture more projects by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); and ensure the promotion and adoption of the Nigeria e-Government Interoperability Framework (Ne-GIF) by the MDAs.
The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Pantami, said must ensure there is a sustainability model in place for all the projects deployed; and prepare plan to reduce the access gaps in the rural, unserved and underserved areas.
He said the Ministry’s roles of supervision and provision of broad policies for all the parastatals within the Ministry was not in contention and told the CEOs that their performance would be assessed on a monthly basis. He asked them to be passionate, hardworking and ensure that they exhibit high level of integrity in the discharge of their duties. He urged them to follow due process in their activities as championed by the President and also directed them to communicate these values and targets to their staff.
Pantami encouraged synergy, unity and the forging of a harmonious inter-agency relationship among the parastatals. He also assured them of his total commitment to ensuring that no obstacle stands in the way of the successful execution of their mandates.