Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director, Rudolph Merab has revealed plans by his administration to conduct personnel and payroll audit to ensure performance and professionalism.
He made the disclosure last weekend when what historically appears to be the first major general clean-up initiative undertaken by the FDA employees in several years, give the main head edifice of the entity located in Whein Town, Bernald Farm a cleaner physical look.
The exercise by the enthusiastic workforce on Friday, April 5, 2024, amidst jubilation, represented the insignia of a new and promising beginning.
An employee who appeared very gladdened while clearing the dirt in the gutter said, “Old days have passed away and new days have taken over. We are seeing a good beginning and some of us are convinced that this new administration will take us through successfully.”
During the exercise, one could see abandoned piles of dirt in offices being disposed to the garbage camp, the age-old spider’s webs being expelled from all corners, and the outdated office papers being cleared from all desks. And certainly, an air of civilization could be felt blowing from all angles of the compound while a mark of dignity and responsibility could be measured from a distance.
Speaking briefly in his office after the close of the exercise, FDA Managing Director, Rudolph Merab reiterated his administration’s preparedness to turn a new page and prove detractors wrong that he is not a man-of-the-match.
He termed the FDA as a business entity that’s expected to feed the national budget, adding that he and his team have come with the full mindset to effectuate the government’s ARREST agenda in a realistic term.
According to his dream, a Conservation House is expected to be built on the compound shortly which would house all offices of partners, and monies paid for rent would go into the FDA coffer for operations purposes. He noted that under his administration, FDA will take full charge in every, or all forest-related matters and will make decisions that will improve the livelihoods of the people in the communities who are living around the fringes of the forest to abort the temptation of depleting the forest.
In his words, “We are inheriting a big MESS’. He said in addition to the physical clean-up exercise which will be a matter of compulsion on a routine basis, an audit of the personal listing and payroll amongst many other clean-up exercises will be carried out to place performance and professionalism above a system whereby the real performing people don’t get what they deserve.
The FDA boss said a nationwide tour is expected soon where he and a team of experts will go for a site examination exercise; he challenged the employees to change in line with the ARREST vision and mission if the entity is to regain its demised image, its autonomous rights, and its international integrity.
For his part, the Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Finance Mr. Victor Kpaiseh who was practically seen sweeping and cutting grass along with the employees promised to do the needful administratively without fear or favor.
