Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in compliance with the mandates of the Economic Recovery Growth Programme (ERGP) has inaugurated its Ministerial Delivery Unit (MDU).
Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu said ERGP is a key economic policy of the government and every civil servant is required to be familiar with its strategic objectives.
He said one of such key objectives is to diversify the economy and invest in the people, pointing out that government has recognised Mining and Agriculture as two sectors that are critical to economic diversification.
Dr. Mu’azu said the country has had many economic policies so the issue has not been the policy documents but implementation of those policies.
“Many public servants do not believe in policies because of the challenges of implementation, people just read the document, they do not even believe it is possible but ERGP is different, government is committed to delivering its objectives,” he explained.
He said the focus of ERGP in addition to having a solid policy, is on delivery.
“The strategy for ERGP is focused on delivery, so the government chose what they call priority sectors and we are one of them, that was why we are among few ministries that initially participated in the Focal Lab that gave birth to MDU”.
The Permanent Secretary said what was assigned to the Ministry by the ERGP was Gold Purchasing Programme and Solid Mineral Development Fund (SMDF). In order to demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to ERGP, he said the Ministry would go beyond what was assigned to it and explore other Minerals that are of economic importance to Nigeria.
“We are developing a National Gold Policy, which is one of the directives we got from the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who is the head of the ERGP Committee and Focal Lab.
The other key issue we were mandated to do was to ensure that we are able to give license for gold refinery and that we have also done”, he further explained.
Speaking on behalf of the other members of the MDU, Mr Patrick Ojeka pledged the commitment of the committee to ensure that the ranking which has been given to the Ministry prior to the setting up of the Focus Lab would be sustained.
The newly inaugurated members of the MDU are Mr Kingsley Ngelale, Director Planning, Research and Statistics(PRS); Mr Patrick Ojeka, Director Artisanal and Small Scale Mining(ASM) and Mrs Rose Ndong, Ag Director, Investment, Promotion Mineral Trade (IPMT).
Others include; Engr. Umar Hassan, Technical Adviser (HMS); Engr. Karnap Wuyep, Director Mines Inspectorate(MI) and Mercy Enwere, Assistant Director, Monitoring & Evaluation.
