The federal government has saved about N19 billion in the last one year through the implementation of cost cutting measures on expenses previously incured by past administrations on travels and sitting allowances.LEADERSHIP findings revealed that these expenses, considered unnecessary wastage, was saved through the efficiency unit of the federal government in the ministry of finance.The sum of N15 billion was saved from government circulars issued on the class and frequency of travel as well as travel discounts alone between November 2015 and 2016 based on figures from previous years on travels.Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had disclosed in October 2016 at a Cost Management Workshop for Permanent Secretaries and CEOs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abuja that CEOs of public organisations would be held responsible for wastages in the system, as they are supposed to implement measures in their organisations aimed at cutting cost of governance.A breakdown of the figure showed that N10 billion was saved in the period under review from the restriction on the number of times a civil servant can travel for official engagements, the class they can fly and processes of travels, including international travels. Another N5 billion is expected to be saved from travel discounts from airline companies. The discount ranges from 5-50 per cent.On travels alone, from a combination of our strategies, we will be saving N15 billion per annum, the head, Efficiency Unit of the federal ministry of finance, Ms. Patience Oniha, told LEADERSHIP in an exclusive interview.During a workshop with MDAs on flight discounts with DANA Airlines Limited, Ms. Oniha had also said, We asked the Airlines to give us discounts using the governments large buying power. They offered us discount of 5-50 per cent.The workshop was organised to equip the MDAs with the details of how to access the 50 per cent travel discount offered by DANA to the MDAs on its local and regional routes.The minister of finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had told journalists while inaugurating the Efficiency Unit that between 2012 and 2015 alone, the federal government spent some N1,054.51 trillion on travels, fixed assets maintenance, training, office stationery, computer consumables and welfare.On a line expenditure, popularly called honourarium and sitting allowances usually collected by boards of MDAs and federal government committees, the unit has been able to save over N1 billion by simply reducing their number of sitting from eight to four per annum.To this effect, Ms Oniha said, Given the nature of our finances and technological improvement across the globe today, we felt we can reduce the cost of governance. We felt the meetings could be held quarterly, if necessary; because four times a year is sufficient.Based on our recommendation that rather than pay sitting allowance eight times a year, we should cut the number to four times a year, the SGF issued a circular to that effect in April last year. The savings from reducing the number of time of sitting from eight to four times is N1 billion per annum.In the 2015 budget, sitting allowance was one of the top five expenditure of the federal government.According to her, the cut also reflected in the amount the government had been spending on other expenses associated with such meetings, including logistics, meals, refreshment, photocopies and files and cost of fueling vehicles, which she said is certainly over N1 billion, adding that what we found out was that in most of the MDAs meeting the monies spent on meals and refreshment were a bit lavish.Determined to end the wastages, FG issued a guideline in February this year, setting standard for how much that can be spent on meals and refreshments for meetings, conferences and seminars.The circular put the amount for each meeting into different categories. On that one alone, a minimum of about another N1 billion has been saved, Oniha who said it was however based on discretion added.On printing, she said the government has also rolled out a circular to cut expenses on files and publications that are always short-lived even though we acknowledge that the government needs to get the public aware of what it is doing on printing and souvenirs.Although the head of the efficiency unit acknowledged that it was difficult to know how much was expended on printing, she said, From available data- we estimate from the number of workshops, conferences and meetings that are always held- not less than N1 billion would be saved.Asked why it had been difficult for government to prevent the MDAs from constantly re-budgeting for items with long lifespan every year, Oniha said, Past governments had been running cash accounting. This government is moving away from it to accrual accounting which enables government to keep proper records of its assets and equipment.Office of the accountant general has done a lot of sensitisation on keeping records. When you have those records, accrual accounting will be available as basis for decision.She further noted that the administrations zero-based budgeting was to ensure that MDAs dont keep buying the same products yearly.The federal government had launched an Asset Tracking and Management Project in March 2017 which will be domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Finance for recording the actual quantity, value, condition and location of all the moveable and immovable assets of government.Adeosun had said, The asset tracking exercise and register will make planning and control easier and improve accountability for assets. With the increased allocation of capital expenditure to 30 per cent, it is important that all assets are recorded and accounted for.The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had announced a recovery of 40 vehicles from some retired directors of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on its part said it also recovered 40 Sports Utility Vehicles from a retired Permanent Secretary who served in the Federal Ministry of Power.Looters Burying Cash In Forests, Cemeteries- FGMeanwhile, looters of the nations treasury have resorted to burying their stolen funds in horrible places like their backyards, deep forests and even in burial grounds, the federal government hinted yesterday.Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this yesterday also noted that the whistle-blower policy of the federal government has so far received immeasurable support from Nigerians.In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, the minister said, Nigerians, fired by a fervid resolve to help banish corruption from their country, have daily inundated the offices of the appropriate government agencies with valuable information.We have been told how looters have resorted to burying stolen funds in their backyards, in deep forests and even in burial grounds. Thanks to whistle-blowers, it is now clear that a rapacious few have pillaged the nations wealth through a vicious orgy of corrupt practices. Thanks to the useful information provided by Nigerians.Mohammed assured that all looted funds recovered via the whistle-blower policy were safe, adding that as soon as necessary reconciliation process and litigation in some of the cases are concluded, the government will give a full account of the funds to Nigerians.He also re-assured Nigerians who have useful information about looted funds that the government will protect their identities and also ensure that they get the stipulated reward for their efforts.Since we launched the whistle-blower policy, we have received immeasurable support from Nigerians. Yes, there is monetary reward for any information that leads to recovery of looted funds, but from what we have seen, most of the Nigerians who have come forward with useful leads were driven by patriotism rather than reward, he said.The minister hailed the whistle-blower policy, saying it has led to the recovery of looted funds in many currencies that may otherwise not have been discovered, just as he described it as an effective tool for fighting corruption in Nigeria.He thanked Nigerians for the enthusiasm and commitment that they have shown in helping the government to tackle the hydra-headed monster called corruption through the useful leads they have been providing to appropriate government agencies.Mohammed added: It is now obvious that more funds are in the possession of looters than are available to government at all levels to meets its obligations, including paying workers salaries, providing social amenities, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring the security of lives and property.As the looters continue to run helter-skelter, many of them are even abandoning their booty at unusual places, including airports. We want to assure Nigerians that we will not abandon this policy for whatever reason. Instead, we will continue to rejig it to make it more effective as a tool for fighting corruption.
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