Federal government has promised to improve on the welfare service and security of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.
The federal commissioner/chief executive officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, made the promise yesterday at a seminar organised by the commission in Abuja.
The seminar with the theme: “Legal Fluency for Public Servants – A Pivotal Event for National Progress” was aimed at equipping the concerned commission‘s staff with financial regulation, procurement and the fiscal responsibility acts.
The NCFRMI boss said the commission was poised to implement the 2024 budgetary allocation to the agency to enable it fulfil its mandate of coordinating the national action for the protection and assistance of refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs.
“We thank Mr President for looking into our plight. To a large extent I think most of our requirements are captured in the budget and hope to ensure that we diligently, using due process expend this money judiciously.
“The message to refugees is that let them be calm, let them also be sincere and be peaceful. The Commission as directed by Mr President will do everything humanly possible to give them protection, to give them the services required, to also give them the full security,” he said.
Ahmed said financial regulation, fiscal responsibility, and procurement laws are not just mere guidelines but the bedrock upon which transparent, accountable, and effective governance is built.
“As public servants, the stewardship of the public‘s trust and resources is a sacrosanct duty. It is a duty that requires not only dedication and integrity but a comprehensive understanding of the legal structures that ensure the democratic values we all cherish are upheld.
“The intricacies of financial regulations are designed to protect our economy, the principles of fiscal responsibility safeguard our future, and the statutes of procurement laws ensure fairness and equality in public service delivery,” he added.
In his remarks, a resource person at the seminar, Prof. Mustapha Osuji said the problem of Nigeria from independence has been the implementation of budget and applauded the commission for the seminar to train key staff on the task ahead.
