by Micheal William

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), has presented yet another opportunity for good governance in Nigeria.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Ufot Ekaette, disclosed this at a media sensitisation workshop on the APRM in Abuja.

Ekaette gave some measures taken by the country to address such problems to include an emplacement of a broad-based national coordination structure comprising a national focal point and a national working group.

Other measures, according to Ekaette, included meeting the enormous costs of running the APR process by government only.

Other measures are an adoption of APRM Strategic Action Plan (SAP) a document that would guide the implementation of the activities of the programme.

Ekaette noted that although a lot of grounds has been covered to ensure the success of the programme in Nigeria, more has to be done to conclude the APRM base review.

He said a diligent prosecution of the APR process portends to add appreciable value to the prosecution of the on-going economic and political reform agenda as enunciated by the NEEDS document.

Ekaette said the media constitutes the most apt agent to inform, educate, broaden and deepen stakeholders participation in the country's self assessment process.

Earlier, the SGF had inaugurated an Interim Management Committee of the National Hospital, Abuja.

Ekaette at the ceremony, charged the members to always avoid issues that would create problems between the committee, the Hospital and the office of the SGF.

Analysing some of the issues, Ekaette urged members to regard themselves as part-time appointees, noting that they should not assume full-time executive functions.

He called on the committee members to familiarise themselves with and abide by the public service rules, financial regulations and extant circulars.

Ekaette said the Chief Executive of the hospital was the approved channel of communication between the committee and the hospital.

He said recruitment, promotion and disciplinary matters should be treated in accordance with the law setting up the hospital and administration guidelines.

Responding on behalf of the committee members, its chairman, Prof Nimi Briggs, praised President Olusegun Obasanjo for choosing the hospital for his recent medical check-up.

He said this action by the president has raised the confidence of the management of the hospital, adding that it was an example that should be emulated by other Nigerians seeking treatment abroad and pledged the committees dedication to duty, adding that they will abide by all instructions guiding the committee and the hospital.

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