OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT

ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL SERVICES

The Administration and General Services Directorate (AGS) is one of the three main Administrative organs under the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. A Permanent Secretary, a Director, Principal Officers and a retinue of other supporting staff, are serving this directorate. Its activities are organized in such a way that Officers are specifically assigned to deal with issues emanating from particular Government Organizations and other Agencies.

The Administration and General Services Directorate is responsible for the following functions:

• Follow-up and clarification on policy implementation by Ministries and other State Organizations
• Advise on the implementation of programs between the State and Federal Government Agencies.
• Evaluating/recommending special requests for Funds from Ministries, Departments and Parastatals and ensuring that such requests conform with approved estimates.
• Periodic appraisal and monitoring the general performance of Government Agencies to ensure that they work in harmony and to the expectation of the general public
• Providing co-operation and  guidance  on Inter­- Ministerial and Inter-Departmental issues towards ensuring efficient implementation of Government programs
• Processing recommendations/disbursement of grants and donations to government and non­governmental organizations.
• Appraising and advising Government on UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank and other Donors support programs or projects.
• Processing of requests for medical treatment in and outside the Country, etc.
• Procurement of vehicles for distribution to designated allottees.
• Overseeing the operations of the State Liaison offices at Abuja, Kaduna and Lagos.
• Co-coordinating the provision of Handing Over Report between successive administrations.
• Entertaining Petitions, complaints and Reports from individuals and Organizations

RESEARCH EVALUATION AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS - REPA

The Directorate of Research Evaluation and Political Affairs - REPA is one of the policy arms of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government - Cabinet Office. Schedules of the Directorate's responsibilities were designed to, effectively and efficiently; address policy issues and orientation in addition to political and policy coordination. The coordination, which involved research and evaluation of unfolding chain of government programs and policy initiatives, is textured against the background of the administration’s perceived policy goals and objectives. The following are some of the functions of this directorate:

• Analyzing policy options and advising Government on general policy issues
• Processing implementation of policies as directed by the Government through relevant Ministries and other organizations.
• Initiating and arranging the setting up of Committees/commissions, as deemed appropriate by the Government on identified problem/areas needing investigation
• Coordination of the activities of such committees/commissions including handing-in Reports, drafting white paper, council memorandum and implementation of Executive Resolutions
• Coordination of internal and external relations in areas of mutual interests between the State Government and other bodies (e.g. Trade Missions, border disputes)
• Coordination and monitoring of Federal Character Commission, National Identification Scheme, Civic registration, National Revenue Mobilization Commission and National Directorate of Employment, State and National Awards
• Attending to petitions and complaints from individuals and organizations
• Attending to matters relating to State and National legislatures, Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and other allied political Agencies in the State
• Liaison with religious and cultural bodies and community leaders
• Coordination of policy implementation as regards political appointments
• Keeping records of all political appointments and provision of welfare of such political appointees including payment of their salaries and allowances, maintenance of their official residences
• Processing the issuance of both official passports and visas to political appointees
• Coordinating and facilitating meetings of owner States of NNDC and Bank of the North Ltd'
• Coordinating and servicing the visits of foreign dignitaries to the State

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING BOARD

The Board consists of 3-Departments namely; ­Department of Administration and General Services; Department of Guidance and Training and the Department of Employment. The Department of guidance and training is responsible for facilitating the recruitment of State indigenes into Military, Para-Military and other forms of service across the nation. Recruitment exercise into the Military, Police etc is an annual event, which takes place at various centers all over the Federation on schedule dates and time.

COUNCIL OF CHIEFS

The Council was established in 1984 and reconstituted in1994. His Highness the Emir of Kano is the head of the Council. Some of its functions include

• -          Matters relating to Cultural affairs
• -          Inter-Communal relations
• -          Chieftaincy matters
• -          Religious and boundary matters etc.