From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
As part of efforts to reposition the National Inland Waterways Authority towards promoting and achieving it’s aims and objectives of the marine and blue economy in the country , the Managing Director ,Bola Oyebanji, has solicited for team work among members of the staff to boost productivity on its service delivery.
Oyebanji affirmed that with team work, the core mandate of the Authority in Marine and Blue economy is achievable.
Oyebanji made the call while speaking at the National Inland Waterways Authority NIWA Special Retreat with the theme “Repositioning National Inland Waterways Authority for Excellence” held in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Monday.
He explained every staff should consider themselves as viable in the struggle to reposition NIWA for maximum performance that would in turn added value to the system.
He said, “We have all been positioned to add value to the system in diverse ways. While some are to design policy directions, others
have been picked to be the drivers of such policies. I likened the two groups to the main teams piloting a ship on a journey.
“While some hold the deck, others ensure the engines below run at their utmost performance. The ultimate goal is to achieve excellence at sea.
“Therefore, our assignment at this retreat is to discuss and have a working template upon which the aspirations of Mr President on
Inland Waterways, through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will be achieved. As I said about three months ago in my inaugural address to the management and staff of the Authority, the objectives of NIWA are achievable, and with our collective determination, they will be achieved
“However, all of us must be willing to play our roles as expected. So I charged all the General Managers, Deputy General Managers, the Area Managers to brave up for the work ahead. As the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the Permanent Secretary have signed a performance bond with Mr President, I have equally signed my performance bond with the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary same way, all of you must sign a performance bond with me as a promise to deliver on your mandates.
“It is important for you to do this with every sense of responsibility as it will determine our working relationship going forward.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for the next 48 hours, I appeal to you to open your minds and apply yourselves to the processes and the different tasks that will be assigned to you. In this retreat, nothing
should be held back. Every participant in this retreat has been carefully selected in light of the assignment at hand. Accordingly,every opinion is important.
“Your contributions at this retreat are part of what we require to have a successful journey as an organisation”, NIWA Boss posited.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs .Magdalene Ajani admonished the participants to avail themselves of the opportunity to grab some of the things they do not know before now.
Ajani reiterated the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy towards achieving the goals and objectives through Performance management system, adding that all the staff must have at least 25 percent to the Minister, 25 percent to NIWA and 50 percent to the Head of Service of federal.
She admonished that civil servants not to misdirect the Managing Director in discharge of his duties.
The Permanent Secretary also warned that the staff of procured to be wary of any nefarious activities that can set trap for either the Minister of the Marine and Blue Economy and the Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority NIWA
