The audit job before us, Osinbajo explains at committee inauguration

As the Professor Yemi Osinbajo-led Presidential Policies and Programmes Audi Committee was inaugurated at the Aso Rock President Villa, Abuja, on Friday, the Vice President says Buhari Administration’s plans are guided by his promises to Nigerians.

Osinbajo stated this while inaugurating the committee with a word that it would take stock government’s efforts thus far and make preparations for the administration’s second term.

Read full text of the VP’s address:

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE INAUGURATION OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES AUDIT COMMITTEE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA, ON FRIDAY, 15TH MARCH, 2019

PROTOCOL

As you are already well aware, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved the establishment of the Policies, Programmes and Projects Audit Committee.  This is to take stock of this administration’s effort thus far and making concrete preparations for the second term in office on May 29, 2019.

In accordance with the terms of reference, the Committee is to do the following:

1.   To audit and determine the status of  implementation of policies, programmes and projects either inherited or commenced by the out-going Administration;

2.   To identify and  highlight the residue of  works and challenges that may militate against their successful implementation;

3.   To prepare and produce a detailed working document that would guide the incoming Cabinet members on the  direction of Government regarding policies, programmes and projects;

4.   To co-opt any organization(s)/person(s) relevant towards the successful execution of the programme; and

5.   To make any other recommendations(s) as may be considered necessary.

In the next few weeks, the team that is here assembled and that team consist of the following:

i.             The Chief of Staff to the President
ii.            Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
iii.           Minister of Budget and National Planning
iv.          Minister of Finance
v.           Minister of Power, Works and Housing
vi.          The Hon. Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
vii.         Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
viii.       Minister of Transportation
ix.          Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
x.           Minister of Water Resources
xi.          Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
xii.         National Security Adviser
xiii.       Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, and
xiv.       The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Member and Secretary

So in the next few weeks, this team will determine the current status of and performance of federal government projects and programmes relying not just on submission of various Ministries Departments and Agencies, but also on an objective assessment of experts who are already engaged on similar assessment  and would be co-opted to assist in this mission.

They will also be required to produce a detailed implementation plan based on the ERGP and on several documents, including the Next Level document.  The plan, of course, is to be able to prepare a working document which would guide the implementation of federal government projects and programmes especially as it would be an important guide to ministers in the new Cabinet.

It is important to note that the review of ongoing projects is already an essential activity of this government.  In fact, the status report was presented to the Federal Executive Council by all ministers between January and May last year, and those reports now only need updating for the purposes of this committee’s work. Also, government plans are always guided by the manifesto of the All Progressive Congress, the basis of the promises that we made to Nigerians, and also by the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) where we try to reflect not just the annual budget, but policies and programmes and implementation plans of government.  Of course, this will now be supplemented by the updates made by the party manifesto by way of the Next Level document.

This Committee will also ensure that we have objective report, very critical analysis and realistic projections, all of which will constitute clear guidelines for each cabinet minister who will focus on ensuring that we have for incoming cabinet, a clear presentation, ministry by ministry, what government needs to do, the challenges that needs to be envisaged and the implementation plan.

All of the members of the Committee will be required to work with teams of their choice. The Committee will work with a team of experts, some of which have already been engaged.

It is from this note that I formally inaugurate the Committee and charge all the members to give their assignment the devoted attention it deserves.

Thank you very much.