The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, on Thursday declared that the current limitations of the offices of the Secretaries to the Government of the Federation and State Governments (SGF and SSGs) to the executive arm of government is hindering their effectiveness.
He made the remark in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the 2024 first meeting of the Forum of Secretaries to the Government of the Federation and State Governments.
The theme of this retreat was "Improving Policy Coordination and Implementation for Sustainable National Development: The Roles of Secretaries to the State Governments".
Anyim harped on the need for the roles of Secretaries to the Government of the Federation, SGF and State Governments, SSG to be institutionalised and protected by law.
According to him, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF should create a repository for all government records and policies, ensuring consistency and continuity.
Senator Anyim also blamed policy inconsistency as a major reason why investors are discouraged from investing in Nigeria.
He said "The office of SGF/SSG is not a creation of law. Section 171(1)(2) and 208 of the constitution only mentioned the SGF/SSG as officers the President/Governor has powers to appoint in the exercise of his executive powers.
"First schedule part 2, paragraph 10 and Section 209 of the constitution only mentioned the offices of SGF and SSG as offices subject to code of conduct processes and nothing more.
"I don't know weather it was deliberate or oversight that the framers of the constitution omitted to establish the office of SGF/SSG in the constitution but went ahead to talk about his appointment.
"Being executive appointee under Section 171 and 208 of the constitution we must be sure that the role of SGF/SSG is limited to the executive arm of government."
Making suggestion for effective role, Anyim said "The office of SGF/SSG should be institutionalized or protected by law. So, the first step to institutionalize the roles of SGF/SSG is first to institutionalize the office by law.
"The advice of the Attorney General of the Federation should be sought on how to establish a common repository for the entire government of Nigeria i.e the three arms. At present there is no effective mechanism to coordinate or synergize the activities of the three arms of government."
Speaking on the roles of the SGF & SSGs, he said "As stated above, no law assigned roles to SGF & SSG. In the First Republic, it was the office of the Principal Cabinet Secretary that covers the role which today is expanded for the SGF. I make bold to say that the roles presently ascribed to SGF is as articulated by a Presidential Committee.
"I know that shortly before I became SGF, it was reviewed or upgraded. But by and large, the role of the SGF or SSG is derived from the role of any secretary as the head of a secretariate. In this case, SGF functions as the head of the secretariate to the Executive Arm of Government and so is the SSG.
"In view of the above, the SGF/SSG is not expected to advice from his head rather from the records or rules available in his office.
"However, I must note that in view of the fact that the functions of SGF/SSG is not protected under any law, the SGF/SSG has to struggle to be allowed to perform his functions. In fact, he has to compete with other appointees of Mr. President or Governor to perform his functions."
Giving suggestions for effective role, he said "In order to capture all government records, reports, policies and programmes, etc all policy memos, programmes proposals etc are expected to pass through the office of the SGF/SSG so that he will be in a position to advice the President or Governor as the need arises and since no law compels this, the President or Governor must give clear directive on this.
"Intra-Government Harmony Though government may have many departments, intra-government harmony is critical because government is one. So, it is the work of the SGF/SSG to harmonize the different memos from various departments.
"The office of the SGF/SSG is a work station and his advice must be anchored on the records from his office not from his head." he stated
Speaking earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged for stronger collaboration with state governments in order to drive sustainable national development.
He said “As Secretaries to State Governments, you bear the immense responsibility of translating national policies into concrete action at the state level. Your roles are crucial in tailoring these policies to the unique needs of your respective states, optimising resources, and ensuring that programmes are effectively implemented to uplift the lives of the citizens you serve.
"This Forum presents a unique opportunity for us to share insights, compare notes, and conduct peer reviews on the status of policy implementation across national and sub-national levels. Doing so ensures we strengthen the linkages between our various levels of government and drive the socio-economic growth and development of our country”
Effective policy coordination and implementation, he said, are crucial to achieving the government’s development goals.
“It is important to recall that since the beginning of this administration, Mr. President has introduced bold policies and reform initiatives aimed at revitalising and repositioning our economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
"Naturally, such reforms come with their own set of challenges, as we continue the arduous but rewarding journey of nation-building
“The theme of this meeting therefore, and the papers that will be presented, have been carefully chosen to address the specific challenges we face at the sub-national level.
"These sessions are designed to highlight the critical roles and responsibilities of Secretaries to State Governments, equipping you with the knowledge and tools necessary to assist your principals in effectively governing your states
“In these challenging times, the importance of policy coordination and implementation is more critical than ever. As Nigeria navigates a complex array of socio-economic, environmental, and security challenges, it is imperative that we take clear, unified action across all levels of government.
"The success of our national agenda depends on how effectively we align federal, state, and local policies-ensuring that they are not only well-conceived but also consistently implemented. Achieving this requires a deep commitment to collaboration and a shared vision of our common goals” he said
Continuing, Akume said “Furthermore, the rapidly changing global landscape-from economic disruptions to the pressing issue of climate change-demands that we act with urgency and precision. In this context, policy coordination serves as the backbone of national resilience.
"Harmonising our efforts and working together in synergy, guarantees that we build stronger, more adaptive governance structures that are capable of meeting the diverse needs of our people. Now more than ever, the role of Secretaries to State Governments is pivotal in translating policy into actionable outcomes that directly improve the lives of Nigerians” he stated
Delivering a goodwill message at the retreat, the Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, noted that the theme of the retreat is timely and critical to Nigeria's growth.
According to him, effective policy coordination and implementation are essential for achieving developmental goals.
He said "I commend the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Distinguished Senator George Akume for initiating this forum, which provides a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices.
"I encourage you all to engage in robust discussions, foster collaborations, and explore innovative solutions to enhance policy implementation."
The Minister emphasized the importance of synergy and cooperation between the Nationals and Subnationals entities to foster harmony and development.
"I have no doubt that the keynote speaker, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation himself, Distinguished Senator, Anyim Pius Ayim, will bring his wealth of experience to bear and enrich the quality of our discussions for fruitful outcomes that will benefit our to nation, drive positive change and propel our nation to greater heights." he said