Many staff of NIMASA must be living in fear after the Minister of Transport has ordered the immediate financial and staff audit of the government-owed agency.
Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi
Tongues are wagging and fear seems visible on the faces of the staff of Nigerian Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has ordered an immediate financial and staff audit of the government-owned agency.
The minister gave the directive on Monday during his maiden tour of Lagos ports and a stop-over at NIMASA Resource Centre, Kirikiri. Amaechi also directed the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Haruna Jauro, to forward details of contracts awarded by the agency for verification as he lamented that even though the agency collects over N100 billion yearly, nothing is shown for the huge money spent by government. The minister also requested for the staff nominal roll and details of staff employed by the agency and their qualifications.
He said: “Over N100 billion is given to this agency yearly and I am yet to see how it has been spent. I am yet to see some of the projects being executed by this agency,’’
He instructed the acting director-general to forward the staff nominal roll of the agency to the Federal Ministry of Transport to know if there were vacancies to be filled. Amaechi expressed dissatisfaction with the ill-equipped clinic laboratory at the NIMASA Resource centre.
“From my inspection so far, I discovered that the Search and Rescue clinic is not equipped; the canteen is in deteriorated condition; the chairs are not okay and the place is leaking.
“Other countries operating maritime industry are achieving 48 hours cargo clearance, so Nigeria is not an exemption.
“I believe in transparency and hard work. We should endeavour to do what people are expecting us to do.
“I will inform the public about the activities of the maritime industry to make sure you do what people will like to know,’’ the minister said.
He also reiterated his plan to fulfill his promise to President Muhammadu Buhari that he would ensure Nigerian ports achieved 48 hours cargo clearance target.