VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUJA #1589/01 2241124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111124Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3633
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9767

UNCLAS ABUJA 001589 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ACTION OF OIG, AF/W AND AF/EX 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT NI
SUBJECT: MISSION NIGERIA OIG COMPLIANCE REPORT 
 
Ref: a. Report of Inspection Embassy Abuja and Consulate General 
Lagos, Nigeria, Report Number ISP-I-08-25A, July 2008; b. OIG email 
of July 25, 2008 
 
¶1. Below follows Mission Nigeria compliance report for Ref A Report 
of Inspection. 
 
¶2. Recommendation 1: Embassy Abuja should follow National Security 
Decision Directive-38 guidelines to perform and document a 
comprehensive analysis of both programmatic and administrative 
requirements, including administrative support, security, office and 
residential space, and training cost issues prior to deciding on 
requests to increase personnel.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  Embassy Abuja has performed a 
thorough analysis of mission growth and support staff needs in both 
Abuja and Lagos.  The results of this study revealed a deficit in 
all areas of ICASS service provision and highlighted several areas 
where staff augmentation was needed.  A comprehensive package of new 
positions was developed and presented to the ICASS Council, where it 
was approved.  Twenty-five new LES management support positions were 
created (9 in Lagos, 16 in Abuja) and efforts are currently underway 
to recruit and fill these new vacancies.   Decisions on future 
NSDD-38 requests will be carefully analyzed in accordance with 
Mission support platforms. 
 
¶3. Recommendation 3: Embassy Abuja should identify a suitable 
facility that can accommodate both a warehouse and maintenance shop, 
using the services of both a local real estate broker and a Bureau 
of Overseas Buildings Operations real estate specialist, and vacate 
the existing facility as a matter of urgency.  (Embassy Abuja, in 
coordination with OBO.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  In April 2008, post signed a 
multi-year lease on a new warehouse that will adequately accommodate 
current and long-term needs. 
 
¶4. Recommendation 4: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with the Bureau 
of Human Resources and the Bureau of African Affairs, should rewrite 
the job description for position #20017002 and seek its re-grading 
at the FS-02 level.  (Action: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with 
DGHR.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  The Human Resources Office in 
Abuja is collaborating with ConGen Lagos to revise the position 
description.  Once this has been completed, it will be transmitted 
to AF/EX for further action.  Post notes that AF has informed that 
this position will not be advertised in the 2009 bidding cycle. 
 
¶5. Recommendation 5: Embassy Abuja should rewrite the work 
requirements of the information resource office in Abuja (#60104000) 
to indicate that he makes regular visits to the public affairs 
section in Lagos to review its Information Resource Center 
operations and provide continuing program and technical advice and 
consultations.  (Action:  Embassy Abuja) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The Country Public Affairs 
Officer has prepared a draft work requirements statement for the 
incoming IRO (ETA September 2008) which specifies the above points. 
The outgoing IRO visited Lagos in April and July to assist and 
consult with the IRC. 
 
¶6. Recommendation 6: Embassy Abuja should request Consulate General 
Lagos to return the Abuja fraud investigation cases still awaiting 
action and develop a six-month training plan that will enable 
Embassy Abuja to conduct Fraud investigations on Consulate General 
Lagos' behalf in its consular district.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  Embassy Abuja began 
receiving transfers of all Abuja fraud investigation case files 
during an investigative visit from Consulate General Lagos staff in 
June 2008.  Three cases remain to be remitted, and these will be 
transferred by the end of August 2008. 
 
Embassy Abuja has developed a multi-tiered training plan for the new 
Consular Investigator to include section orientation, distance 
study, and practical field training from Lagos FPU staff under the 
supervision of the Abuja FPM. Since starting in June 2008, the FSN-I 
has completed four full online modules on visa processing and fraud 
prevention, and completed self study of all appropriate consular 
training SIGs.  The Abuja Consular Investigator has accompanied the 
Lagos FPU staff on several fraud investigations during their final 
Abuja field tour, and drawing on her prior investigative experience 
and contacts, she has already conducted numerous solo fraud 
investigations and verifications in the Federal Capital Territory of 
Abuja, and is soon to accompany Lagos FPU on a series of training 
investigations in the Lagos Consular district.  At the conclusion of 
this latter training, the Abuja Consular Investigator will begin 
processing all Lagos fraud cases requiring field investigation in 
Abuja. 
 
¶7. Recommendation 7: Embassy Abuja should instruct Consulate General 
Lagos to develop both a fraud prevention unit travel plan that 
includes officers in some of the field investigations and a 
mechanism for spot checking other investigation results, and Embassy 
Abuja should follow suit.  (Action:  Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post accepts this recommendation.  FPU Lagos has drawn up a travel 
plan that includes officer travel and spot checks.  Embassy Abuja 
will use this plan to draw up its own. 
 
¶8. Recommendation 8: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with the Bureau 
of Consular Affairs, should rewrite the position description of the 
Lagos deputy consular section chief to include primary 
responsibility for the American Citizen Services (ACS) unit. 
(Embassy Abuja, in coordination with CA.) 
 
Post accepts this recommendation and has rewritten the position 
description to include ACS responsibility. 
 
¶9. Recommendation 9: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with the Bureau 
of Consular Affairs and the Bureau of African Affairs, should 
eliminate one of the three consular associate positions at Consulate 
General Lagos and replace it with an additional consular assistant 
position, adjusting the funding source as appropriate.  (Action: 
Embassy Abuja, in coordination with CA and AF.) 
 
Post accepts this rcommendation and is preparing a request to CA and 
AF. 
 
¶10. Recommendation 11: Embassy Abuja should consult with Consulate 
General Lagos and the Bureau of Consular Affairs about requirements 
and fund a Q-matic system that can be installed at the same time as 
the reconstruction project or, if funds are not available, prepare a 
request to the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations for 
procurement and funding as part of the renovation project.  (Action: 
 Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  Preliminary research has been 
completed on Q-matic systems and ConGen Lagos is consulting with CA 
on funding.  The Q-matic would be installed once the Consulate's 
rehabilitation project is completed. 
 
¶11. Recommendation 13: Embassy Abuja should prepare and forward to 
the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations a mission-wide 
maintenance plan with financial justification for a funding increase 
in the 7901 and 7902 accounts.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  The Financial Management 
Office is collaborating with the Facilities Maintenance Officers in 
Lagos and Abuja to develop a comprehensive, needs-based budget 
request for 7901 and 7902 funding.  When complete, it will be 
transmitted to OBO. 
 
¶12. Recommendation 14: Embassy Abuja should develop and implement 
appliance and furniture pools in order to minimize the need for 
warehouse space, as well as to achieve greater efficiency in 
managing inventories of nonexpendable U.S. Government property. 
(Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  As a Tier II post for 
State/USAID consolidation of management services, the formation of a 
joint furniture and appliance pool is under consideration by the 
Consolidation Committee.  If there is sufficient interest by other 
serviced USG agencies to the point where they are willing to buy 
into this service, post will proceed with implementation. 
 
¶13. Recommendation 15: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with the 
Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should develop a timetable 
and a list of resource requirements to implement all recommendations 
for Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos warehouses from the 
2007 visit of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations safety, 
health, and environmental specialist.  (Action: Embassy Abuja, in 
coordination with OBO.) 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  With a projected date of 
occupancy for the new Abuja warehouse to be before the end of 
calendar year 2008, all of the hazards and weaknesses in Abuja in 
the 2007 SHEM report will be addressed (please see Recommendation 
3).  Consulate General Lagos has created a list of fourteen items 
that need to be bought or replaced for a total of $77,000.  The 
timeline for implementation will be transmitted to OBO/SHEM before 
the end of August 2008. 
 
¶14. Recommendation 16: Embassy Abuja should conduct a mission-wide 
review of all position descriptions, revise those that are not 
accurate, and reclassify the affected positions under the computer 
assisted job evaluation process.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post agrees with the recommendation.  The HR office has begun a 
mission-wide review of all Locally Employed Staff position 
descriptions to ensure they are current and accurately reflect the 
job content of the incumbent.  With over 600 LES positions needing 
this review, it is expected that this process will take a minimum of 
six months. 
 
¶16. Recommendation 17: Embassy Abuja should solicit and analyze 
various options for medical allowances and submit the results to the 
Bureau of Human Resources for consideration.  (Action: Embassy 
Abuja, in coordination with DGHR.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The Abuja HR office has 
requested of HR/OE information on medical coverage provided by 
comparators in Nigeria.  After we have reviewed what other employers 
are offering, we will work with HR/OE to adjust our current medical 
coverage if we are not keeping pace with local market conditions. 
 
¶16. Recommendation 18: Embassy Abuja should develop and implement 
training plans for the telephone and radio technicians within the 
Mission.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and is working with RIMC 
Pretoria to find the appropriate technical classes for local IRM 
staff. 
 
¶17. Recommendation 19: Embassy Abuja should immediately distribute 
encrypted radios to all emergency action committee members at 
Consulate General Lagos.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  All available DES-encrypted 
radios have been distributed to members of the Lagos EAC, and 
additional units have been ordered in order to provide one to each 
member and backfill our supply of spare units. 
 
¶18. Recommendation 20: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with the 
Bureau of Information Resource Management, should upgrade the 
bandwidth for Consulate General Lagos.  (Action: Embassy Abuja, in 
coordination with OBO.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The bandwidth for the 
circuit between Lagos and Abuja was upgraded from 448Mbps to 
1024Mbps in July 2008. 
 
¶19. Recommendation 21: Embassy Abuja, in coordination with the 
Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should immediately repair 
the fire alarm in the information program center's information 
processing facility at Consulate General Lagos.  (Action: Embassy 
Abuja, in coordination with OBO.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The IPC fire alarm was made 
operable in March 2008. 
 
¶20. Recommendation 22: Embassy Abuja should establish and implement 
procedures that require travelers to submit their travel vouchers 
within the time frames established in the Financial Management 
Procedures Handbook.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  During the OIG site visit, 
the FMO office issued management notice 2008-039 on March 5, 2008, 
specifying the following: 
 
Travel regulations, and the Debt Collection Act provide that: travel 
claims must be filed no more than 5 work-days after travel 
completion (7 work-days for post assignment travel) (4 FAH-3 H- 
465.1-1); advance balances, not offset by the amount claimed, are to 
be refunded within 10 days of notification by direct refund to the 
cashier (4 FAH-3 H-463.4-2 c.); if not settled within 30 calendar 
days after travel completion, charges for interest, administrative 
fees and penalties may be assessed beginning on day 31 (4 FAH-3 H- 
463.2-3 and 4 FAH-3 H-463.4-1c), wages may be offset to recoup 
amounts owed; additional travel will not be authorized nor travel 
advances issued until outstanding advances are refunded, and (4 
FAH-3 H-463.1-5) lastly, all travel advances to a traveler must be 
repaid (by voucher and/or direct refund) before the traveler departs 
on transfer, separation, or home leave. (4 FAH-3 H-463.1-5) 
 
 
¶21. Recommendation 23: Embassy Abuja should research and resolve all 
outstanding travel advances that have been pending more than 30 
days.  (Action: Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and has aggressively enforced 
the travel regulations stated above and has strictly enforced the 
following policies: 
 
Refusal of additional travel advances to any traveler who has 
outstanding advances, and formal notification to employee and 
supervisor of outstanding advances. For away from post employees, 
the outstanding advance is referred to the DOS finance center for 
collection if payment or a voucher is not received after the 1st 
notification.  For employees at post, 3 formal notifications are 
made to the employee prior to formally submitting to the DOS finance 
center for collection. For employees who terminated final severance 
payment is withheld prior to the settlement of the debt. 
 
Following the above policies has allowed post to significantly 
reduce the number of outstanding travel advances. 
 
¶22. Recommendation 24: Embassy Abuja should establish and implement 
procedures that require quarterly review of the suspense accounts 
and the allocation of suspense account items to the depositor or to 
the correct account.  (Action:  Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  Post is drafting procedures 
for reviewing the suspense account on a quarterly basis. 
 
¶23. Recommendation 25: Embassy Abuja should research and reconcile 
all transactions charged to the suspense account that have been 
outstanding for more than 90 days.  (Action:  Embassy Abuja.) 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and is in the middle of a 
comprehensive review of the account with plans to complete its 
analysis with any required corresponding adjustments by 31 August 
¶08.  Once the comprehensive review is complete post will review the 
suspense account on a quarterly basis based on the fiscal year (Dec, 
Mar, June, Sept) to ensure all items are properly transferred to the 
correct account or returned to the customer if required. 
 
¶24. Informal Recommendation 1: Embassy Abuja should follow a 
near-term to medium-term strategy of maintaining the present number 
of American Corners and strengthening their partnership capacity. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and is the process of 
conducting a comprehensive review of our American Corner Program. 
To date, this has led to the determination that our American Corners 
in three locations were adrift (no programming, no commitment on the 
part of the institutional partner).  We have withdrawn our 
collections in two locations and are seeking more committed partners 
for these Corners.  We are also considering whether to retain our 
American Corner collection in the third location.  The incoming 
IRO's draft Work Requirement Statement has also been modified to 
call for the development and implementation of a strategic plan to 
strengthen and rationalize the American Corner program in Nigeria. 
 
¶25. Informal Recommendation 2: Embassy Abuja should review the fraud 
prevention units' caseload distribution a year after Abuja assumes 
full responsibility for investigations in its consular district to 
determine if a Lagos investigator position should be transferred to 
Abuja. 
 
Post accepts this recommendation and has it under ongoing review. 
 
¶26. Informal Recommendation 3: Embassy Abuja should request the 
Lagos fraud analyst, in conjunction with the immigrant visa chief, 
to review pending adoption cases, track and analyze results, and 
reevaluate the practice of referring all such cases for field 
investigations. 
 
Post accepts this recommendation and has completed action on it. 
We have reviewed our adoption investigation policy and now we are 
handling them on a case by case basis rather than the blanket 
investigation rule.  To date, we have not changed the language in 
the adoption flyer so it remains a 100% investigation policy in our 
public information, but officers now use their discretion regarding 
investigations rather than sending EVERY case up.  A training 
session was completed that included all officers and the FPU 
investigators so that we can pinpoint what the fraud indicators are 
and refer them to FPU on a case by case basis.  We've been tracking 
adoptions more closely on the IV side of things and I know FPU has 
also been doing the same thing.  There is a SOP drafted and awaiting 
clearance that spells this entire process out. 
 
¶27. Informal Recommendation 4: Embassy Abuja should include the 
reconstituting of a functional warden system in its Mission 
Strategic Plan and devote more of its representational and outreach 
efforts towards this goal. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and incorporated it into the 
MSP.  Lagos will seek CA and/or AF funding for the creation of a 
short-term, temporary Warden network coordinator position to liaison 
with resident American citizens in an effort to revamp and 
reorganize the moribund warden network. 
 
¶28. Informal Recommendation 5: Embassy Abuja should provide WebPASS 
training to mission personnel. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  Now that the 3rd office 
spaces have been completed, Embassy Abuja has regained the use of 
its computer training room.  WebPASS training classes will be 
scheduled as soon as the ISC office is back to full staffing. 
 
¶29. Informal Recommendation 6: Embassy Abuja should develop a 
comprehensive procurement plan. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and has developed an 
embassy-wide procurement plans that captures the needs of all the 
ICASS-serviced agencies in Abuja.  This will be our vehicle for all 
end-of-year acquisitions. 
 
¶30. Informal Recommendation 7: Embassy Abuja should issue an 
administrative notice reminding staff about the length of time and 
staff requirements involved in unclassified and secure 
procurements. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The procurement staff had 
been operating out of very cramped temporary quarters while their 
permanent offices on the 3rd floor were being fitted-out.  Now that 
they have a suitable work environment, realistic procurement 
timelines are being developed that will also be incorporated in the 
section's ICASS performance standards.  These will be promulgated in 
a mission management notice. 
 
¶31. Informal Recommendation 8: Embassy Abuja should provide customer 
service training to the procurement staff. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  As part of our year-end 
spending plan, we are contracting for both supervisory and customer 
service training for key members of the management staff.  The 
Procurement Section will very much be a part of this service 
improvement effort. 
 
¶32. Informal Recommendation 9: Embassy Abuja should redesign its 
procurement request form highlighting required fields of 
information. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The procurement request form 
is being redesigned. 
 
¶33. Informal Recommendation 10: Embassy Abuja should expand the 
procurement section's duties to include compliance with 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Services standard. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The Procurement Staff, and 
its American supervisor, will be mindful of its obligation to meet 
the service standards that it has had a hand in developing. 
 
¶34. Informal Recommendation 11: Embassy Abuja should develop 
procedures in coordination with other management sections in order 
to facilitate quicker procurement for goods and services. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  To obviate the previous 
communications and coordination problems between the Financial 
Management and Procurement sections, regular biweekly meetings 
between the leadership of both sections have been established. 
 
¶35. Informal Recommendation 12: Embassy Abuja should assign 
additional drivers to the Ambassador and deputy chief of mission and 
keep overtime for drivers to acceptable levels prescribed in 
Department motor vehicle and safety guidelines. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  A third driver has been 
introduced into the lineup that serves the COM, and replacement for 
the general motor pool is being recruited. 
 
¶36. Informal Recommendation 13: Embassy Abuja should prepare proper 
waivers and obtain justifications before proceeding with changing 
the vehicle fleet. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  When it is time to procure 
vehicles, all necessary waivers will be obtained. 
 
¶37. Informal Recommendation 14: Embassy Abuja should develop and 
implement a plan with a timeline for the disposal of official 
vehicles. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  Consulate Lagos is 
implementing a disposal plan that will take its vehicles out to sea 
and dispose of them after they have been drained of all fluid and 
other pollutants.  Embassy Abuja is still looking for a vendor who 
can destroy its armored cars in a manner that is acceptable to DS. 
 
¶38. Informal Recommendation 15: Embassy Abuja should advertise in 
places other than just the Embassy and the consulate intranet and 
Internet. 
 
Post does not agree with this recommendation.  Using its current 
methods of recruiting, post receives, at a minimum, 200 applications 
for entry-level positions.  Positions classified at higher grades 
receive upwards of 500 individual applications, which results in the 
HR staff working weekends to sift through them. 
 
¶39. Informal Recommendation 16: Embassy Abuja should establish and 
implement a mission-wide orientation program for all their newly 
hired locally employed staff employees. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  A mission-wide orientation 
program for newly-hired LES staff is being developed. 
 
¶40. Informal Recommendation 17: Embassy Abuja should encourage 
supervisors to submit award nominations and assist them in writing 
them if they so request it. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  All sections heads have been 
reminded of their obligation to recognize and reward their better 
performing employees through the Interagency Awards Program.  The HR 
office will be conducting workshops on the nominating process to 
assist them in this effort. 
 
¶41. Informal Recommendation 18: Embassy Abuja should establish and 
encourage managers to fill out other types of recognitions for local 
staff employees. 
 
Embassy Abuja does not agree with this recommendation.  While it 
takes onboard Informal Recommendation 17 that it should have a more 
extensive and robust awards program, non-monetary awards are not be 
perceived in a favorable light by its LES staff. 
 
¶42. Informal Recommendation 19: Embassy Abuja should prepare a 
checklist with timeliness about the hiring process for eligible 
family members. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The HR office has prepared a 
checklist with suggested timelines for use when hiring EFMs. 
 
¶43. Informal Recommendation 20: Embassy Abuja should request from 
the post employment committee and keep in the files an explanation 
of the selection of an eligible family member. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation, but notes that there has 
often been only one candidate for many of Abuja's EFM vacancies. 
That said, when the PEC is next convened to review applications, it 
will be encouraged to document its findings and recommendations. 
 
¶44. Informal Recommendation 21: Embassy Abuja should name a Federal 
Women's Program Manager. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  A Federal Women's Program 
manager was identified in May, 2008. 
 
¶45. Informal Recommendation 22: Embassy Abuja should place Equal 
Employment Opportunity information on bulletin boards of all 
buildings. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  EEO information has been 
broadly distributed and posted in conspicuous locations. 
 
¶46. Informal Recommendation 23: Embassy Abuja should monitor 
compliance with International Cooperative Administrative Support 
Service standards and use the results as a management tool to 
improve customer service. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  The results of the annual 
ICASS Customer Satisfaction Survey have been used in staff meetings 
to illustrate the gulf between standards and practices.  Both 
American and LES supervisors have been made aware of their 
responsibility to meet the goals that they have established for 
their sections. 
 
¶47. Informal Recommendation 24: Embassy Abuja should include 
compliance with International Cooperative Administrative Support 
Services standards as an element in performance evaluations. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  Management Section 
supervisors have been directed to include ICASS standards in their 
discussions when meeting with their staff.  As all Position 
Descriptions are also being reviewed, and in some cases revised. 
This element is also being included during consultations with the 
rated employee. 
 
¶48. Informal Recommendation 25: Embassy Abuja should distribute 
National Security Decision Directive-38 guidance and train 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Services Council 
members on developing cost impacts for National Security Decision 
Directive-38 responses. 
 
Post agrees with this recommendation.  The US Mission in Nigeria 
just underwent a thorough needs assessment of its support staff. 
This review was performed at the direction of the COM and with the 
collaboration of the ICASS council, and it tangibly linked the need 
for support staff to grow at rates commensurate with that of Program 
elements.  The Mission Nigeria ICASS Council is now well versed in 
the cost impacts of NSDD-38 requests. 
 
¶49. Informal Recommendation 26: Embassy Abuja should establish 
procedures that include periodic monitoring of status of funds, 
obligations, and liquidation amounts. 
 
Post concurs with informal recommendation 26.  Shortly after the 
on-site testing was completed the mission conducted a comprehensive 
review of unliquidated obligations working closely with the DOS 
finance center removing obligations that were no longer valid.  The 
mission plans to conduct comprehensive reviews on a quarterly 
basis. 
 
¶50. Informal Recommendation 27: Embassy Abuja should require the 
financial management and general services offices to schedule 
monthly meetings to determine the validity of unliquidated 
obligations. 
 
Mission concurs with informal recommendation 27 and has scheduled 
standing monthly meetings between the GSO and FMO offices to discuss 
the status of funds and enhance the working relationship between the 
offices.  In addition, the offices along with other management 
sections began meeting on a bi-weekly basis in preparation for 
fiscal year end closeout. 
 
¶51. Informal Recommendation 28: Embassy Abuja should develop 
procedures to make certain that the financial management office 
provides program offices with the status of funds reports. 
 
Mission concurs with informal recommendation 28 and has a policy of 
providing status of funds to program offices on a monthly basis and 
upon request.  In addition, in conjunction with the IMO Office the 
mission has made access to COAST reports available to program 
managers to review the status of the allotments they manage.  The 
FMO Office is currently in the planning stages of developing 
training on the COAST application, which it plans to offer in the 
upcoming months.  Further, the office began placing budgets for 
representation, conference training, and field travel online 
(intranet) and plans to update these on a regular basis so managers 
have the available resources to oversee their respective programs. 
 
¶52. Informal Recommendation 29: Embassy Abuja should conduct 
verifications of cash advances to subcashiers. 
 
Mission concurs with informal recommendation 29 and has implemented 
policy refusing replenishment to subcashiers unless they have a 
current independent verification on file with the Embassy cashier. 
In addition, the Embassy cashier has established an annual audit 
plan to perform their own independent verifications of the 
subcashiers.  The independent reviews by the cashier are currently 
on-going and will continue annually. 
 
¶53. Informal Recommendation 30: Embassy Abuja should conduct cash 
verifications using an unpredictable pattern at varying times of the 
month. 
 
Mission concurs with informal recommendation 30 and will make 
further efforts to vary the monthly cash verifications in an 
unpredictable pattern. 
 
¶54. Informal Recommendation 31: Embassy Abuja should determine if 
the mission has current Nigerian Government approval to operate 
radio frequencies for the emergency and evacuation and emergency 
action committee networks.  If they do not, they should obtain 
approval to operate the radio frequencies for the appropriate 
networks. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and will contact the 
appropriate GON authorities to determine that status of radio 
networks. 
 
¶55. Informal Recommendation 32: Embassy Abuja should update all 
position descriptions of locally employed staff under the 
information program center throughout the mission. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and will update positions as 
part of the process described in para 14. 
 
¶56. Informal Recommendation 33: Embassy Abuja should update the 
mission's cellular telephone policy to reflect the requirements of 
Department regulations and redistribute it throughout the mission. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation and is writing a new cellular 
phone policy. 
 
¶57. Informal Recommendation 34: Embassy Abuja should develop a 
checklist of sponsor duties and responsibilities and monitor that 
duties are completed. 
Post concurs with this recommendation and once the new CLOs are 
onboard, they will be requested to compose a checklist for sponsors 
to follow. 
 
¶58. Informal Recommendation 35: Embassy Abuja should establish an 
advisory board in Lagos with officers who are single or childless to 
provide events ideas that appeal to them. 
 
Post concurs with the recommendation.  A new CLO has recently been 
hired in Lagos, and has been requested to take action on this 
recommendation. 
 
¶59. Informal Recommendation 36: Embassy Abuja should maintain a file 
the disposal records of controlled medication. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation.  Disposal records of 
controlled medications are now being maintained. 
 
¶60. Informal Recommendation 37: Embassy Abuja should prepare a 
memorandum of understand with the regional psychiatrist based in 
Ghana to establish a schedule for recurrent consultations visits. 
 
Post concurs with this recommendation, and has raised this issued 
with the Regional Medical Officer in Pretoria, who has referred it 
to M/MED, which will discuss with OIG. 
 
PIASCIK