NESREA Urges FG To Regularise Agencies’ Activities For Effective Performance

The federal government has been advised not to give up on its efforts to regularise the activities of its agencies in order to eliminate role duplication and increase efficiency.

The advice was given on Monday during the resumption of duty of Dr. Innocent Bariate, the newly appointed Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.

Speaking at the event, NESREA Director, Inspection and Enforcement, Abdulsalam Isa, while listing the agency’s challenges, which include worker welfare and a low budget, expressed concern about the Ministry of Environment’s encroachment on the agency’s mandate.

He lamented that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was duplicating some of its functions.

He stated, “Currently, NESREA is confronted with multiple challenges that have hampered compliance monitoring and enforcement activities in recent times. These include a lack of adequate funding, which has caused the agency to operate at a reduced capacity or inefficiency. Accessing funds from government coffers is often difficult, posing a significant barrier to effective facility regulation. As a result, consistent visits and follow-ups are frequently lacking, resulting in ineffective compliance monitoring and standard enforcement.”

He went on to say, “To meet global standards, the agency’s financial quota requires a level of increment/expansion that shifts the preponderance (superiority in weight, power, importance, or strength) from short-term funding to long-term funding for the agency’s growth and development.” Recognising the importance of compliance monitoring/enforcement and awareness creation as the agency’s primary drivers, there is a need to strategically and consciously secure funds for work.”

He lamented that: “There are functions that were domiciled with the agency that have been deliberately encroached on by the FMEnv, causing rifts between the two parties.” This has rendered the agency incapable of carrying out its duties.

“Also, like most other government agencies, NESREA faces attempts by sister agencies (for example, NAFDAC) to duplicate its functions, even though the NESREA Act clearly defines each Agency’s boundaries.

” It may interest you to know that since its inception, the agency has established six (6) Zonal Offices, thirty-five (35) State Field Offices, and two (2) Reference Laboratories across the country to assist in addressing the various environmental challenges in all States of the Federation; however, the Agency regrettably lacks a field office in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The current office space that houses the Headquarters is of great concern, given the number of employees and available basic amenities in the building, as well as its proximity to other basic amenities such as transport stations, banks, and so on.” Sir, serious attention is required in this area to ensure a comfortable working environment for employees.

“Given the country’s extremely high cost of living, staff salaries and benefits are grossly insufficient. Despite the hazards and challenges of the job, staff salaries have not increased in recent years and have remained stagnant since the last review in 2010, with no adjustments made to reflect rising living costs or the job’s increasing demands.

“The agency’s salaries and allowances are nothing in comparison to other Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) around the world, let alone similar agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency. So far, the Agency has made efforts to improve salaries and working conditions.

“Despite being in its final stages of implementation, the agency has yet to produce any results due to political bottlenecks. This effort requires immediate follow-up prior to the implementation of the new minimum wage.”

Innocent Bariate, the new Director General, stated that NESREA must work together to achieve its mandate.

Innocent, emphasising the importance of unity, stated, “I am coming with an open mind and would like to assure you all that we will work together.”

He also stated, “We move not only to pursue the mandate, but also to pursue the vision.”

“The only way we can accomplish this is by working together. You can always count on me, but I prefer to work with everyone.”

He also promised to look into workers’ well-being, saying, “Under my leadership, I will pursue worker welfare.”

The DG also stated that the agency will work with partners and other agencies to ensure that it meets its mandates.