The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has said the office of the HOCSF is collaborating with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to ensure an effective civil service for the country.
Yemi-Esan who stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the First Quarter Public Private Partnership Units Consultative Forum Meeting, added that the aim was to attain a World-class civil service.
Yemi-Esan who was represented by Mrs Ehigie Agalasi, Director Infrastructure in the HOCSOF, said that there was already a Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan implemented from 2017 to 2021.
“We have a succession plan from 2021 to 2025 and what the Office of the Head of Service is doing is to bring innovation to the service so that it can be the best.
“That is why we are partnering with ICRC because we know that government does not have all the money; so we need the collaboration of the private sector to get us to where we should be,” she said.
She expressed the optimism of the HOCSOF to liaise with all other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in attaining the set milestone.
On his part, the Acting Director-General of ICRC, Mr Michael Ohiani, said that the commission had attained great milestones in the last couple of years.
He said even the COVID-19 pandemic did not hinder the ICRC from issuing certifications for new concession projects.
“ The commission issued 19 Outline Business Cases (OBCs) in 2021 which makes a total of 116 OBCs from inception, and 5 Full Business Cases (FBCs) in 2021, which makes a total of 47 FBC’s from inception.
“ Four projects were approved by the Federal Executive Council, making a total of 49 FEC approvals from inception to the end of 2021.
“ ICRC facilitated a World Bank sponsored APMG Certified PPP Practitioner (CP3P) course for 60 Nigeria Government staff at Federal and States level.
“The Federal Executive Council has granted approval to two PPP projects, The Onitsha River Port project and the Federal Coastal Fishery Terminal, Ebughu, Akwa Ibom.
“ This brings to a total of 51 FEC approved PPP Projects, OBC certificates were issued to Federal Ministry of Transportation/Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) for the Concession of Tincan Island Truck Transit Park.
“ Lagos State and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments for the Development of filling station on leased land at National Museum, Jos,” Ohiani said.
He said that FBC was issued to the Nigeria Police for the redevelopment of the DIG Quarters in Maitama, Abuja, and that plans had commenced for a first time Africa PPP Summit which would be communicated soon, among other achievements.
“ In addition to building usual PPP capacities, this year we will encourage global certifications through the NII3P, like the APMG Certified PPP Practitioner (CP3P) for our members,” he added
He said the commission had started charging fees for regulatory guidance activities which he said included the review of Outline and FBC and other processes that may require fees in line with the ICRC Act and ICRC regulations.
He also said that ICRC was readily available to partner with all stakeholders to significantly upscale Nigeria’s infrastructure to a world-class level.
Ohiani, also acknowledged the efforts of all the MDAs, expressing gratitude for consistency on the part of the hosts and sponsors, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum is a quarterly meeting which holds at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the ICRC to discuss issues related to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
