FG Inaugurates Presidential Committee To Verify Properties Abroad

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, on Friday in Abuja inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee on the verification of Federal Government properties abroad. In his address at the inauguration, Ashiru said the committee was set up in line with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan.

``As you recall, I presented the record of our stewardship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Federal Executive Council on 14 February 2013.

``At the end of our presentation, President Goodluck Jonathan decided to set up this committee to verify Federal Government’s properties abroad.

``Mr President directed that the membership be drawn from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Finance, Transport; and Aviation.

``Others are the National Intelligence Agency; Bureau of Public Procurement, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.”

Ashiru said that each of the MDAs was represented by three officers not below the rank of Assistant Director.

He said that the Office of the Special Adviser to the President was represented by two officials of commensurate ranks.

Ashiru said that the terms of reference of the committee was to ascertain the number of government properties abroad; determine the ownership by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of each of the properties abroad, including the costs of the properties at acquisition or at the point of purchase by the government.

Others included the evaluation of the condition of the properties as well as the volume of renovation required if any; to recommend disposal, upgrade or use of disused or vacant properties.

Others were to recommend how proceeds from the sold properties should be ploughed back to further develop or acquire properties in Missions abroad on the basis of need.

Ashiru also said that the committee would assess recently renovated properties, with a view to ascertaining that funds remitted have been judiciously applied.

It would also recommend an efficient asset and facility management system under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs.

The minister charged the committee to come up with a programme which would be funded by the MDAs involved, adding that members of committee were not to embark on ``unnecessary journeys abroad”.

Ashiru also urged all MDAs to cooperate with the committee. (NAN)

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