The Borno State Government; has established six agencies and trust funds for an efficient implementations of government projects, policies and programmes. While announcing agencies and trust fund Monday at the Musa Usman Secretariat complex, Maiduguri, Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda; disclosed: “The newly established agencies are Borno state Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), Education Trust Fund, State’s Security Fund and Borno state Bureau of Public Procurement. “Other set up agencies, include the Agency for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Partnership among others.” According to him, the six newly established agencies and trust funds are for the implementation of government policies, programmes and projects. He said the completion of 326 projects with implementation of 46 programmes in a year, were to improve living conditions of people in urban and rural centres of Borno state. Citing the procurement Act, he said: “The procurement Act was passed by the National Assembly and was also domesticated by the state House of Assembly.” He warned that all government procurement must be through Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in line with public procurement Act to curb corruption and wastages. He said during the period under review, the state government has constituted committee on civil service reform; so that some of systemic challenges and institutional inadequacies are being addressed. According to him, overcoming structural and institutional inadequacies, are to make Civil Service dynamic and in accordance to the changing trends in governance. While speaking on refugees and IDPs, he said: “We’ve concluded agreements with our neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon to repatriate 250,000 Nigerian refugees for resettlement. “Already; 2, 000 refugees from Cameroon have arrived Banki, a border town with Cameroon. “We’re discussing with the Nigerian refugee commission and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with a view to bring other refugees in other neighbouring countries in Northeast.” On restoring civil authorities in 23 councils, The SSG said: “We’ve written letters to Shehus of Bama and Dikwa, as well as the emirs of Gwoza and Askira to relocate and had returned to their respective chiefdom and communities to restore civil authorities.” He said the monarchs are now in their domains; along with district heads and other traditional titled holders. While speaking on employment embargo, he however; noted that government has employed 150 medical doctors, 120 administrators and five professionals to fill vacancies created by retired workers.
