BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Federal Government has stated that plans are underway to return the staff of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) to budgetary allocation by 2025 and facilitate the payment of 11-month unpaid salaries.
Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the unveiling of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria's (EHCON) Electronic Documentation Management Center (EDMC).
The centre, which is domiciled at the headquarters of EHCON in the Federal Secretariat, was built by EHCON in partnership with Agro - Climate Resilience in Semi Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) and financed by the World Bank.
News Rider reports that the staff of EHCON received their last salary in December 2023, which implied that from January to November 2024, the workforce are yet to be paid despite assurances from the Federal Government.
Federal Government had on Monday, June 26, 2023, in a letter signed by the then Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, announced the delisting of all professional bodies and councils from budgetary allocations.
The decision, which was reached by the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) at the end of its 13th meeting, approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocation to professional bodies/councils.
Lawal stated that misunderstanding of the role of EHCON was the major reason that the agency was removed from budgetary allocation and categorised as self-funded agency.
"Maybe misunderstanding of the role of EHCON, some people decided that EHCON is in a position to take care of themselves, which is not true.
"EHCON is not the only agency affected. There are also other agencies in the Federal Ministry of Health that are facing the same problem.
"From next year, EHCON will be returned to budget circle and they will get some supplements to offset the unpaid salaries, "he added.
The order, which takes effect from December 31st, 2026, was intended to prepare all professional bodies and councils to take responsibility for their personal overheads and capital expenditures.
Currently, staff of EHCON, and Nigeria Council of Food and Science Technology under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, among others no longer receive their salaries as against the 2026 timeline fixed by the Federal Government.
Lawal stated that the event is a significant step in the agency' commitment to environmental health, sustainability and national development.
The minister listed the key benefits of the centre as data integration and accessibility; real-time monitoring and early warning systems; policy formulation and research; and capacity building and innovation.
"With enhanced data analytics capabilities, the centre will enable us to monitor environmental conditions in real time, identify emerging threats, and deploy early warning systems to prevent crises.
"Reliable data is the foundation of sound policy. This centre will support evidence-based policymaking, enhance research, and foster collaboration with international partners to tackle global environmental challenges.
"It is undeniable that the health of our environment directly impacts the health of our people, the stability of our economy, and the future of our nation, "he added.
Lawal hinted that EHCON has been supporting national efforts to safeguard environmental standards and ensure public health safety.
He stated that through regulatory oversight, professional development programmes, and engagement with stakeholders at all levels, EHCON has consistently advanced the frontiers of environmental health management in Nigeria.
By embracing digital technology, the minister informed that EHCON demonstrated its commitment to modernising its operations, aligning with international best practices, and addressing the evolving challenges of environmental health in a dynamic and interconnected world.
Lawal disclosed that the initiative aligned with the Federal Government's broader environmental agenda, which prioritised sustainable practices, climate resilience, and public health.
The minister assured that the Federal Ministry of Environment is committed to strengthening collaboration with EHCON, to further boost the agency's capacity of providing quality services to clients, as well as effective and efficient control of its records.
He said: "The ministry is poised to ensuring the total digitalisation of processes of all its agencies, with a view to entrenching smooth and seamless communication with all stakeholders in the environment sector.
"We recognise the critical role of technology and data in achieving our goals, and we are committed to supporting platforms such as this that empower institutions like EHCON to thrive.
"Our vision for environmental sustainability requires the collective efforts of government agencies, private sectors, civil society, and every Nigerian citizen, "he said.
He thanked the leadership and staff of EHCON for their hard work and visionary leadership, adding that their dedication to the project is a shining example of how institutional resilience and innovation could drive transformative change.
The minister lauded the invaluable contributions of development partners, technical experts, and all individuals and organisations that supported the initiative, noting that their support underscored the importance of partnerships in achieving national and global environmental goals.
He pleaded with all stakeholders to ensure that the data generated and managed through the platform translated into actionable insights that would enhance environmental policies, improve public health outcomes, and foster sustainable development.
The Governments should please look into this issue because people are really suffering, and the councils cannot pay their workers leaving people in abject poverty our beloved president should please pay these workers, they are suffering
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