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*Inaugurates New Boards, Executives
Towards achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu's administration, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Prof Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has charged the newly appointed Governing Boards and Executive Management Team of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) to take the assignment serious in order to ensure food security and portable water supply among other objectives.
Noting that the President has appointed people of integrity to assist in achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda, Prof Utsev said that the mandate given to the Ministry and parastatals included ensuring food security, water supply and Sanitation in the country.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday during the Retreat and Inauguration of the newly appointed Chairmen of Governing Boards and Executive Management Team of the 12 RBDAs, he recalled that when ministers came on board in 2023, they signed Performance Bonds on behalf of their respective Ministries alongside Permanent Secretaries in order to deliver promises to Nigerians and focus on result-oriented projects
To ensure that the Governing Boards and Executives are well prepared for the assignment ahead, the Minister listed some of the expectations the government wants from them.
He said "Distinguished appointees, the Ministry considers the Rivers Board Development Agencies as a strategic representation of its values, goals, and objectives; as such, you are all expected to frantically uphold the standards and reputations of the water sector to enable you to achieve effective water resources management, sustainable development, and service delivery.
"I wish to proudly inform the Boards and Executive Management of some flagship programmes initiated by the Ministry that are being implemented through the River Basin Development Authorities towards accelerating food security, job creation, empowerment, and socio-economic growth.
"These laudable programmes are as follows:
(i) Partial commercialization and revitalization programme for sustainability of the RBDAs;
(ii) Songhai Integrated Farming Model to enhance food production and job creation;
"(iii) Graduates and Youths Empowerment Programmme to provide gainful employment for the unemployed; and
(iv) River Basin Strategy for Poverty Alleviation, utilizing the basin resources to train and empower farmers."
He urged them to vigorously pursue the successful implementation of the initiatives while exploring other innovative ways towards fast-tracking development in their respective Authorities.
The Minister also drew their attention to other key areas including Mainstreaming of Integrated River Basin Management principles and practices at the catchment levels in the RBDAs; Improving farmland acquisition, development, and utilization by acquiring more farmland and perfecting both old and new Title Deeds); Improving collaboration with their catchment State Governments to enhance visibility and project ownerships;
Others, according to him, are Increasing irrigated agricultural activities and enhancing support to farmers; Compliance with Administrative Guidelines and Procedures in Public Service; Strict adherence to Procurement Due Process and Financial Regulations; Implementation of the new Performance Management System (PMS); and to Prioritize staff capacity building and welfare.
Prof Utsev urged the Boards and Management to collectively look inward and identify other sources of funding innovative projects besides the traditional budget system in order to boost their revenue base.
To explore alternative funding sources, he disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the partial commercialisation programme for the twelve (12) RBDAs in order to strengthen operational efficiency by leveraging on public-private sector partnerships and funding for revitalization of the country’s agricultural landscape for self-reliance and economic development.
Some of the takeaways from thematic areas, the Minister said, included "Appointees will be able to understand that the Board is mandated to define the mission and set appropriate directions for the RBDAs, while Executive Management has the sole and practical responsibility for managing the operations for results.
"Meanwhile, it is expected that between the Board and Executive Management of the RBDAs, there should be a mutual and interdependent relationship regularly, in a manner that respect is prioritized, even during disagreements on issues around strategic direction, compensation levels, performance, accountability, level of autonomy, etc. It is crucial to note that leadership by the Board is critical in managing the relationship to meet realistic set targets.
"Appointees are expected to clearly understand the ethical rules and regulations for public Office holders to uphold in promoting integrity and accountability by ensuring honesty, fairness, and respect in their respective behaviours.
"Appointees are all required to understand the River Basin Act and Water Resources Master Plan, including the policy, to enable them to draw the strategic direction and innovative ideas that would revolutionize the sector.
"It is very evident that in achieving the Presidential priority area for food security, there must be a deliberate commitment to expanding irrigated farms across all the RBDAs, which in turn are expected to encourage farmers around their communities to ensure all-season farming for increased food production, etc." the Minister stated.
According to him, modalities have been put in place to assess and reward performance and address underperforming RBDAs.
He said that he recently charged the Department of River Basin Operations and Inspectorate to step up its statutory oversight functioning and operational activities to report all its milestone achievements and challenges timeously to the Ministry’s Management.
Congratulating the Governing Boards and Executives on their new appointments, he charged them on synergy and collaboration devoid of rancour in order to achieve the overall objectives of their respective appointments.
"Let us therefore work together to ensure that our potential in water resources contributes significantly to national economic growth and prosperity." he stated
Prof Utsev also thanked Mr. President for all the good things he has done and is doing to the Water Resources and Sanitation sector.
"I use this medium to express my profound appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for making this long-awaited aspiration of having a functional Board a reality. This bold gesture underscores his demonstration of visionary leadership and commitment to the effective administration of our River Basin Development Authorities."
On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, noted that the retreat is not only for orientation purposes, but a strategic platform for fostering synergy, strengthening governance, and deepening understanding regarding the mandates, responsibilities, and expectations associated with their respective appointments
He said "You will agree that the River Basin Development Authorities are important institutions in the Federal Government’s efforts to improve food production, access to irrigation, access to portable water, job creation, and income generation, especially in our rural communities.
"Therefore, achieving these positive economic components heavily depends on the commitment of the Boards and Executive Management in setting priorities, ensuring financial prudence, enhancing transparency, and delivering tangible results."
He urged them to take the opportunity of the retreat to share insights, take steps to clear grey areas, and deliberately commit to understanding the system workings to help discover renewed energy and strategic focus throughout their tenure.
"At the mainstream, we will always be available to interact and provide all the necessary support and guidance." he stated
Speaking on behalf of the Senate and House of Reps Committees on Water Resources, the Reps Committee Chairman, Hon. Sada Soli, noted that they have a huge task ahead of them as water resources management is beyond drinking water supply only.
He also pointed out that they will face a huge challenge except they concentrate on research and development.
The lawmaker charged them to do a lot to justify the increase in budgetary provision for the sector.
"We will perform oversight function on the River Basins to see if you will justify what has been given to you and see if you will get more money in the next budget." he stated
Responding on behalf of the Chairmen of the Governing Boards, Dr. Amos Yadukso, who is the Chairman of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, thanked Prof Utsev for setting the tone for development of the water sector.
He also thanked President Tinubu for finding them worthy of the assignment.
He assured that the President will be happy at the end of the year that he appointed them to the positions.
Also speaking on behalf of the newly appointed Managing Directors of the RBDAs, the MD/ CEO of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, Abubakar Mallam, thanked the Minister for his purposeful leadership and President Tinubu for finding them worthy of the appointment.
"We will justify the confidence repose in us by working hard in their various areas."
High point of the event was the inauguration of the Governing Boards and Executives by Prof Utsev.