US embassy cable - 01ABUJA2746

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