As perm sec, I ensured prompt payment of salaries, others – Dikwa

Dr. Mohammed Kyari Dikwa is the immediate past permanent secretary (special duties), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. In this interview with a cross-section of journalists, he talks on a wide range of issues. ABDULLAHI M. GULLOMA was there. Excerpts

Background 

My name is Mohammed Kyari Dikwa. My father’s name is Alhaji Kyari Dikwa, and my mother’s name is Hajiya Amina Kyari Dikwa, both of them are now late. They were all indigenes of Dikwa local government of Borno state and were prominent Islamic teachers. My father was known as Mallam or in our language called Goni. My grandfather was called Goni Zulum, who was one of the most popular Sheikhs in and around Borno state that people looked up to as role models. Most of our family members were educated in both Qu’ranic and Western education, and we had a very humble upbringing.

What would you say is your fondest childhood memory?

When we were growing up in Dikwa, we used to find it very difficult to have tap water. We used to go to the pond to fetch water for our parents on a daily basis. Actually, I used to go to the pond and fetch water for them to the extent that I sustained an injury on my head, the scar of which I still retain to date. I had no choice than to be dutiful because I didn’t want to do anything that would have made my parents upset. I strived hard to ensure that I pleased them at all cost and remained obedient, and that was the reason why I had to go to that extent. Many of my contemporaries at that time were stubborn and used to be disobedient to their parents. Having that scar as a result of fetching water for my parents and the circumstances around are the fondest part of my childhood. Really, it is something that has put a permanent sign on my head. If I remove my cap, you will see that sign, so it is something that would forever remain fresh in my memory, and we thank God for being obedient to our parents while they were alive.

Who are your childhood friends in Dikwa?

I have quite a number of childhood friends but the most notable ones were Alhaji Ibrahim Hamza, a businessman in Maiduguri; Tijjani Ibrahim, a retired civil servant; Modu Korembe, my secondary school mate, and Jidda Mohammed, among others. As I said, they are too numerous to mention. There were so many of them that were close to me, and we actually grew up together, we still share ideas and memories with some of them, even though most of them were not able to scale through their educational programmes because, at that time, there were fewer opportunities. If you had a little education in society, you would be recognised. You could be given a job such as teaching in a primary school or even a government job. Companies or government agencies may just call you up to work for them. In my own case, I had to forego a lot in order to pursue my educational dream with patience and perseverance.

Who would you say made the most significant impacts on your life as an undergraduate at the University of Maiduguri?

Professor Oluokure. He really taught me, and I equally learnt a lot from him. Most people used to fear and run away from him, but I knew pretty well that he wasn’t a monster, so I decided to stay close to him. I believe that his difficult posture was to imbibe in students the culture of hard work and commitment to their studies.

In fact, as a very inquisitive person, I really wanted to know why he was so difficult for us. And ultimately, I discovered that he meant well for us. He really meant to train us and then be proud of us after our studies.

It is also worth mentioning that I was not just an ordinary student at the University of Maiduguri. I was a member of the Students’ Union. In fact, I was the secretary-general of the Nigerian Accountancy Students Association, which covered the whole of Nigeria. We used to travel from Maiduguri to Kano, Sokoto to Yola, Lagos to Ibadan, Onitsha to Aba for a convention or one union activity or the other. After which I would come back and study and then go to work. It was quite challenging for me. Things were not really easy, but certainly, at the end of the day, I was able to put in a lot of energy, commitment and concentration to my studies.

There is also another remarkable lecturer that we had at the University of Maiduguri called Professor Olu Okere. He now works at the World Bank as a Financial Adviser. He was outstanding as a lecturer. His method of teaching was unique. He used to ask us to bring to examination halls all the textbooks in the country. He would allow us to write exams with textbooks because he was very sure no student could find answers to his test or examination questions in those textbooks. The answers were not simply there because they were basically analyses of cases, and these required creative thinking. He would ask you a question that you will never find the answers to in any textbook. They were questions that a student must use his or her brain to answer, and most of his lectures used to take about six hours.

After the first three hours, you go for a break and come back for another three hours. If you were not intelligent enough or if you didn’t have the capacity and mental alertness, you couldn’t cope with his lectures. His method of teaching has actually broadened our thinking capacity and prepared us well, and helped us get the practical aspect of accountancy, especially in the world of work. We were actually refined to serve humanity in our chosen field of endeavour.

At what point did you join the Borno state civil service?

I started my working career with the World Bank after my National Diploma at Ramat Polytechnic. Like I said earlier, I went to the University of Maiduguri for my degree while working as a staff for the World Bank. But when I was about to finish my studies, the World Bank informed me that the Borno state Agricultural

Development Programme was coming to an end, and they could not extend my appointment. The Programme was to be changed to Southern Borno Agricultural Development Programme. They also said they could not fund my scholarship and advised that I resign or transfer my service to the state government. So, I did the latter and transferred to the mainstream Borno state civil service as an accountant, and thankfully, they allowed me to finish my degree programme at the University of Maiduguri.

What would you say are your contributions to national devt as permanent secretary?

I was the pioneer permanent secretary (special duties) in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. I was also the pioneer director (special duties) in the ministry. And what we have done was to strengthen the operations of public financial management reforms and initiatives like GIFMIS, IPPIS, Whistle Blowing Policy, PICA, Efficiency Unit, Cash Management, Policy Voluntary Assets and Incomes Declaration, etc.

Out of the numerous departments in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, I only supervised three departments and one agency. The remaining ones were supervised by my colleague, the permanent secretary in charge of Finance. I am very proud to have supervised the three departments and one agency. I was able to ensure that the agency was given about 30% of its budget within that period. Also, one of the priorities of President Muhammadu Buhari was to see that government brought home displaced Nigerians, especially those in neighbouring countries. So, what I did was to call the officials of states in the North-east to come up with a mass housing programme that will make it possible for those displaced persons to be returned to their towns and villages. Through this programme, each state was going to undertake a massive housing programme in conjunction with the Family Homes Fund. In addition to that, there are additional houses being constructed currently. I will forever remain grateful because Mr. President, through the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, gave me the opportunity to help solve a major crisis that had affected over 80,000 people that were displaced in Cameroon alone. The second outstanding issue was to make sure that the funds meant for the North East Development Commission were released promptly to enable take-off. I knew and still know the implications of what is happening there, and I was mindful of Mr. President’s desire to reduce the level of poverty and bring peace back to the northeast. We had to work hard to find and release funds quickly for them to start work immediately. The most prominent achievement I had as permanent secretary (special duties) was the prompt payment of salaries, overhead cost, capital cost and debt servicing up to December 31, 2019. On the whistle-blowing policy, I set up a committee comprising security agencies which include: DSS, NPF, ICPC, EFCC, etc., to come with a bill to strengthen the operation of the policy. When I was leaving, I handed over everything to the Honourable Minister, and I believe she will forward it to the Federal Executive Council for approval. This is because we need the policy backed by law so that people would have confidence in the system and be protected should they assist the government in uncovering any wrongdoing.

Do you have interest in politics in the future?

I really do not have any interest in politics, but that does not mean if the government asks me to serve, I will not accept. I will serve, but I am really running away from a situation where I will have to put myself forward for an elective position. I am really not interested in that because I want to, in a peaceful manner, serve the people.

Impacting knowledge and sharing my 35 years of experience as a civil servant are my areas of interest. If I am given the opportunity to bring in people to learn from my experience, that will make me even happier because for me, after 35 years of meritorious service, and although I am now retired, I am certainly not tired of serving humanity. I am looking forward to any opportunity that can be given to me to give back to society. And with the help of God, I continue to do so now in my private capacity.

This country and its people have been nice to me. I have had opportunities to serve at different levels. And one thing, I am most happy about is that for the first time in the history of this country, to the best of my knowledge, a retiring Permanent Secretary was awarded a certificate of meritorious service.

The President approved my exit from the service with lots of prayers and best wishes. The letter was conveyed to me by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on behalf of the President. Again, the President, through the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, handed over to me a certificate of meritorious service. I am very proud of this, and I wish other colleagues will also be given similar treatment and privilege and opportunity when their time eventually comes.

Any regrets?

No, but to err is human and to forgive is divine. I, therefore, wish to use this medium to seek forgiveness for my shortcomings while in the service of our dear country, and to I sincerely appreciate and thank all and sundry, especially my family, friends and colleagues for their immeasurable support, prayers and cooperation I enjoyed while in the service of my fatherland.

Leave a Reply