ABUJA – The National Conference Committee on Public Service has recommended the reduction of appointed ministers from 42 to 36 to reduce the cost of governance as the committee rounds -up its work.Mrs Bello Okeke, chairperson of the committee, who is also a retired Head of Civil Service, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
Okeke said that high cost of governance was not caused by the number of people in the civil service but that of public service.
Public servants according to her, include executives in Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the three arms of government as well as the military and para-military and their aides.
“We are saying that the issue of having so many special assistants and personal assistants that are not part of the structure should drastically be reduced to cut cost of governance.
“We also recommend that the number of ministers should be reduced to 36. The constitution made provision for 36 ministers, let us maintain that. We don’t have to appoint 42 ministers because of geo-political zones,’’ she said.
Okeke also disclosed that the committee recommended the establishment of a special court to prosecute people indicted of corruption.
She said that the move was to ensure that such people were immediately apprehended and brought to book.
The chairperson said this was important as some people had arrogated to themselves the pension money meant for people who retired from service.
“If such people are that selfish to arrogate to themselves the pension of retired workers and allow most of them to die because they cannot go to hospital or feed because they are not getting their money, they should face the law and be disciplined,’’ she said.
Okeke said that the committee was also recommending upward review of pension.
“Pension is supposed to be reviewed every five years or whenever salaries are reviewed but this has not been done in the last 14 years.
“You will be surprised that some permanent secretaries that retired some few years ago are earning about N48,000 per month,’’ she said.
The chairperson said that the committee was also recommending the re-investment of pension fund in the provision of housing for workers.
“Pension Commission can get engaged in mortgage institutions by providing money to mortgage institution, so that people who are contributing can have access to the money and their own houses,’’ Okeke said.
The chairperson also said that the committee had also recommended proper data collection in the country to prevent falsification of records.
“Any Nigerian that is above 60 should be offered social security to enable him get free medical treatment for him to age gracefully,’’ Okeke said.
The chairperson said that the committee had recommended that physically challenged persons should also be provided with access into public buildings with certain percentage of employment slots.
“Also at time of promotion, they should be given special consideration and when you employ somebody with disability you must add an allowance of grade level six officer to his salary for him to employ an aide,’’ she said.
“We are quite satisfied with what we have recommended and we pray that government will be able to act on these recommendations, ’’Okeke said. (NAN)
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