FG Places Premium On Civil Servants Welfare – AGF Idris

BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, has said that the Federal Government places premium on the well-being of the civil servants in the country.

He therefore urged them to exhibit discipline, commitment and obedience to public service rules and regulations at their workplace for enhancement of productivity. 

Idris also said that unions are now partners in progress adding that gone are the days of misconducts, thus their priority should be for the system to work for an increase in productivity and decorum in service, saying that Unions should preach peace, diligence and should be conscious of the fact that we are in a regulated system by PSR and Civil Service Rule.

The AGF, who stated these when he received in audience members of the Association of the Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN), noted that the local chapter is active and that he is glad that he keeps the Union abreast of the happenings in the Treasury House, adding that, that is why there is a cordial relationship between him and the staff. 

Idris also said that welfare, working environment and capacity building are necessary to achieve the goals of the Treasury.

He further said; “Training is necessary because members of staff that are knowledgeable will face the tasks ahead, hence we will continue to put in place amenities for increase in productivity.”

Idrsi empphasised on the necessity of a conducive environment to work, which is what necessitated the provision of office spaces, maintenance culture, and state-of-the-art clinic in addition to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which the Federal Government has provided for them. 

According to him; “There is a provision of pharmacy, laboratory and ambulance for emergency during office hours including health care personnel to support the well-being of staff, a gym and a crèche are also available.

“Land has been provided at Treasury School, Orozo to encourage commercial ventures such as water treatment plant, and real estate development by the Treasury co-operative society.”

He explained that the OAGF is the last place to come to for arrears and allowances except that of salary arrears which is the component handled by them, while allowances are initiated from the Head of Service of the Federation, Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office.

He said that the Head of the Civil Service of Federation has raised the issues to set aside additional money to settle the workers arrears and gave the assurance that positive results will soon come out.

Earlier, the FCT Secretary of the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN), Mr Isaac Ojemhenke said that the AGF’s staff welfare approach is worthy of emulation as it has made the staff happy, especially with the welfare packages, and pleaded that the relationship should be made to grow stronger and sustained.

Ojemhenke further said that a letter was written to the OAGF on August 22, 2019 in order to know the update on the progress of the payment of civil servants arrears such as promotion arrears, salary arrears, first 28 days allowance, repatriation allowance, burial expenses and dead benefit.

He said; “In the past, there was a struggle that brought the attention of the President to the plight of workers as a result of non-payment of these arrears and machineries were put in place which led to the payment of the promotion component of the arrears by the OAGF.

“The other arrears ought to have been paid also to enable them to fully address the concern of their members to make them grow stronger, hence the visit to know when the remaining arrears would be paid.”

In his own remarks, the Unit Chairman of the Association in the OAGF, Mr Onoja, said the AGF has been a father as his administration has been good to the welfare of the staff, adding that the Union has always been carried along in the activities of the office especially in promotion.

He concluded by inviting the FCT Secretary and his team to a scheduled seminar with the theme: ‘Hate Speech and How to Take Care of our Health in Contemporary Workplaces.’