By Philomina Attah
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday said it prevented the misapplication of N189 billion by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) between 2019 and 2020.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed this at an interactive forum with Directors of Finance and Accounts and their Internal Audit counterparts in Abuja.

The one-day event was organised by the ICPC and the Budget Office of the Federation to address challenges likely to hamper implementation of the 2021 Federal budget.

Owasanoye said the funds meant for personnel cost, were flagged by the ICPC during its 2019/2020 System Study and Review of the MDAs.

“Part of the outcome from 2019 System Study and Review of the commission is the mopping up of N42 billion (personnel cost) in 2019, and N147 billion in 2020.

“The Minister of Finance through findings of the commission of the wrong application of personnel cost on overhead and capital items, issued a negative warrant to mop up excess cash available in the personnel costs of the MDAs to forestall further misapplication of funds.

“Similar warrant was issued in 2020 totalling N147 billion, which was a huge savings to government,” he said.

The ICPC boss also disclosed that some MDAs diverted a total of N220 million from tax and other third-party deductions like union dues, between 2018 and 2020.

He, however, said that the funds were restrained and retained by the IPPIS following an alert by the ICPC.

Owasanoye blamed the lingering corruption in the country’s public finance on the “failure of integrity” by government accountants and auditors.

He said the ICPC’s system review also found that many MDAs spent substantial parts of their personnel cost budgets on unrelated matters.

“These expenditure types included DTA and Estacode, electricity, water and sewage bills, procurement of diesel and stationery, payment of transport allowance and flight fares and illegal employees as well as illegal allowances.

“Again, that the budgeting system for Capital Fund had shifted heavily to overhead related activities such as empowerments, sensitisations and trainings, thus reducing the visibility of government assets and infrastructural projects commensurate with the value of capital appropriation.

“Some agencies of government engaged in massive capital project implementation through direct labour with attendant implication for corruption and loss of project quality and tax revenues,” he added.

Owasanoye further explained that the continuity of these infractions challenged its professed political will to deal with impunity characterised by disobedience of laws and regulations.

“This is an existential threat to the nation and it has already negatively impacted stability and development because funds appropriated for major infrastructure and development projects are simply diverted or mismanaged.

“It starts with those of us in this room. This impunity cannot continue ad infinitum. Nigeria cannot and will not survive it, ” he said.

Mr Ben Akabueze, the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, said that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) agenda could only be effective through efficient and coordinated use of annual budgets aligned with the Federal Government’s development agenda.

He added that a budget was not just a set of revenue and expenditure plans by the government, but a culmination of government’s strategic socio-economic and fiscal policies and plans.

Akabueze, in a paper presentation entitled: “Transparency and Fiscal Discipline in Implementing of FGN Budget”, enjoined MDAs to imbibe the culture of transparency, fiscal discipline, and prudence in preparation and implementation of Budget.

On her part, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the country’s economy suffered a setback in 2020 due to COVID-19 “and we entered recession at the end of first quarter of the year”.

Ahmed, who was represented by Malam Aliyu Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Special Duties), said that measures were being put in place to ensure that the country exited from recession soon.

By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the abduction of some staff and students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State and directed the Armed Forces and Police to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.

A statement by the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, said the president had also dispatched to Minna, Niger, a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation.

According to Shehu, the team is also expected to meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College.

The presidential aide quoted the president as assuring the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry.

Buhari urged them ”to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga, and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future.

“Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” said the president as he condemned as cowardly the attack on innocent school children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that armed men at about 3 a.m, invaded Government Science Secondary School in Kagara, headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger, abducting an unknown number of staff members and students

“At about 3 a.m. last night, bandits attacked Government Science College in Kagara, killing one and abducting an unknown number of students.

“Some staff members, their spouses, children were also abducted by the bandits,” a source told newsmen on Wednesday in Kagara.

By Ibironke Ariyo
Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) has directed its members to comply with the COVID-19 protocols during its summit in Accra, Ghana, where more than 300 journalists will participate in both virtual and physical presentation.

The president of the forum, Mr Ajibola Abayomi, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, advising participants to register for the summit at africanmigrationsummit.org

He observed that there was need to maintain safety measures against COVID-19 pandemic, saying that time had come for government and the stakeholders in Africa to work with the media to further collaborate on migration matters.

He observed further that media collaboration would better the lots of Africa and evolve the necessary platform to stem the tide of slavery and inhuman treatment of Africans in other continents.

He noted that the summit — African Migration Summit — will be in partnership with the NEKOTECH Centre of Excellence, Ghana entitled: “Labour Migration: Shifting the paradigm to benefit Africa”.

Prominent African leaders; Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Dr Princess Ocansey and others will speak at the summit.

Others include the Diaspora Committee, House of Representatives in Nigeria, Dr Tunji Asaolu, Nigerian Representative at the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council and International Organisation For Migration (IOM) Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria, among others.

The summit will hold at Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana, between Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.

By Monday Ijeh

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it had repelled a four-man armed robbery gang after dispossessing victims of their possessions in Gwarimpa area of Abuja.

ASP Mariam Yusuf, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the FCT, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

Yusuf said the incident happened at the early hours of Tuesday at 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.

She explained that two members of the gang were killed after attempting to escape with the stolen items, while the others fled.

According to her, all the stolen items, including computer gadgets, mobile phones and a huge sum of money were recovered by police operatives.

Similarly, she disclosed that a gang of armed robbers also, on Tuesday, attacked a resident of Apo-Dutse, along Apo axis, stealing his belongings.

Yusuf said the robbers shot the resident dead, leaving his security guard, who is currently being treated for gunshot injury.

While commiserating with the families and friends of the deceased, she disclosed that the police had launched a manhunt to arrest and prosecute all fleeing suspects.

The PPRO reiterated the unflinching commitment of the command to ensure the protection of lives and property within the FCT.

She called on residents to report distress or suspicious movements within their vicinity to the command’s emergency phone numbers on 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

Yusuf also said that the conduct of police officers could be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on 09022222352. (NAN)

By Sandra Umeh

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has charged a 20-year-old man, Buhari Lawal, with  peddling 1.45kg of Cannabis Sativa (hemp).

Unemployed Lawal is charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos State.

The one-count charge of drug trafficking is marked  FHC/L/28c/2021.

The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, alleged that Lawal committed the offence on Jan. 16.

Aernan submitted that Lawal  was arrested at Alaba Suru in Lagos State, while dealing on hemp.

The charge has been assigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji but  no date has been fixed for Lawal’s arraignment.

According to NDLEA, hemp, like heroin and cocaine,  are  restricted.

Drug trafficking contravenes the provisions of Sections 11(c) of the NDLEA Act of  2004, which provides for life imprisonment for the offence. (NAN)

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen Bashir Magashi, has inaugurated a 21-man committee to facilitate the reforms of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

The Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Mr Mohammad Abdulkadri, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Magashi explained that the committee would facilitate the necessary defence sector reforms with a view to addressing the perceived administrative and operational gaps in the nation’s military.

He said the military must be refined in compliance with the current globally acceptable 21st century standards.

The minister also urged the committee to see its assignment as a patriotic call to national service and the need for its members to play their roles in defence of the country’s territorial integrity against the infractions of the insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari is optimistic that the recommendations of the committee at the end of the assignment will drive his campaign promise to return the military to its rightful place of global reckoning.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr Musa Istifanus, said the members of the committee were carefully selected and balanced to meet national representation and aspirations capable of delivering on their mandates.

The Chairman of the committee, retired Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, assured that members of the committee would bring their experiences and expertise to bear in carrying out the assignment.

Umar said team work, dedication and commitment would be their watchwords within the ambit of national realities.

The committee has, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi as Secretary while some former service chiefs as well as some top serving and retired officers are members.

By Hussaina Yakubu

Governors of Nigeria’s North-West Zone on Monday pledged to explore all available means to ensure the security of lives and property.

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State made the commitment in Kaduna at a town hall meeting organised by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Masari, who spoke on behalf of the governors, noted that the security situation in the region has deteriorated, pointing out that the governors must work to ensure peace and stability.

“It is our responsibility to ensure everyone is safe,” he said, adding that communities should be adequately involved in ensuring security.

“Everybody must be on the same page. We must go back to our communities, build community relationships and restore what was lost.

“Ten years ago, the situation was not as bad as it is today, now communal life has broken down,’’ he said.

Masari, however, urged all governors in the country to take responsibility of protecting everyone, “irrespective of where they come from, ethnicity or religion”.

In his remarks, Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, who is also the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, urged Nigerians to learn to live in peace, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.

“Today, on behalf of northern governors, I welcome the new service chiefs while commending those who did their best and also prayed to see the end of the insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

On his part, Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, noted that the high level delegation at the meeting underscored the importance with which the Federal Government attached to finding solutions to security challenges in the country.

He expressed the hope that the meeting will come up with a road map to end the security challenges in the country, which has affected the economy and livelihood of the people.

El-Rufai expressed concern over recent clashes in the South-West, which have raised tension and agitations.

“All of us the governors are going round, talking with stakeholders to calm people down,” he said.

He noted that security should be the number one priority of government and a collective responsibility of all.

The meeting was attended by all the governors in the zone, traditional rulers, security experts and other key stakeholders. (NAN)