Cablegate: Nigeria: Civil Service Overseas Mobility Initiative

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ABUJA 002746

SIPDIS

DRL FOR MARIA PICA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM AMGT APER EAID NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CIVIL SERVICE OVERSEAS MOBILITY INITIATIVE

REF: A. DRAFT CSOMI DOCUMENTS FROM DRL
B. PICA-ANDREWS 10-26 EMAIL
C. PICA-BROWNE 10/25 EMAIL

1. Post strongly endorses the establishment of a Coordinator
for the Governance and Development Initiative in the Niger
Delta under the Civil Service Overseas Mobility Initiative
(CSOMI). While Post enthusiastically backs creation of this
position, the slot was not anticipated in our budget; thus,
we have very limited funds to support the position's
establishment. Based on Ref.b, we understand that the CSOMI,
in addition to paying salary and benefits, will cover all
support and start-up costs such as: residential lease and
furnishings, utilities, office furnishing and supplies,
position-associated ICASS expenditures, allowances (including
COLA), training and travel. Our concurrence, therefore, is
based on the understanding that CSOMI will defray the above
mentioned expenses and any other costs related to the
position's creation.

2. As stated in the draft documents, we agree that the
general purpose of the position is the management of the
Delta Governance and Democracy Initiative which comes under
the rubric of the Department,s(DRL's) overall corporate
responsibility activities. The position will, under the
direction of the Ambassador and though the DCM and Embassy
Political Section, work with Nigerian government officials
(national, state and local), oil companies and oil service
companies, NGOs, the local population, and other mission
elements to promote development, good governance, human
rights and conflict resolution in the troubled Delta region.
These Initiative objectives accord with top Embassy
priorities.

3. Because this effort is focused on the Delta, it provides
an important, unique opportunity to partner with US business
in an effort to make the area in which they operate more
stable and conducive to business by jointly promoting human
rights, good governance, better security, development, and
dialogue, as well as established "best practices" in these
areas. By providing this type of targeted, comprehensive
assistance, we cast both the USG and cooperating businesses
in the best possible light -- we demonstrate that profitable
business, human rights, security and community development go
hand in hand. This will benefit both Nigeria and long-term
US interests here.

4. The overall description of the position and
responsibilities as outlined in the draft documents are
sound. As we move along in the process of creating this
position, there may be need to make minor revisions. Post
will fax or email some preliminary comments to DRL ) Maria
Pica.

5. The Embassy is excited to be a part of this important
initiative.
Jeter

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