News
Reps panel to probe NPA over ‘$800m debt’ to port operators
The house of representatives committee on public accounts says it will commence an investigation into alleged $800 million indebtedness by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to port operators.
The committee disclosed this at its investigative hearing on Friday.
According to Oluwole Oke, chairman of the committee, NPA is said to owe port operators over $800 million, an amount described as “not small”.
The committee said the investigation would be taken closer to both parties in Lagos.
“The parliament will move the hearing to Lagos where all parties will meet with us at Marriott Hotel in Ikeja between December 8 and 9. We hope to resolve this issue once and for all. $800 million is not a small amount of money,” Oke said.
Meanwhile, the committee is also probing the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for failing to employ workers in 2018 despite appropriate allocation.
The office of the auditor general of the federation had, in an audit query being verified by the committee, said N1.7 billion was approved for PTAD as personnel cost in 2018 but it utilised only N1.4 billion and returned the balance of about N310 million to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF).
Speaking at the hearing, Oke said despite workers not being recruited, PTAD received N1.7 billion as personnel costs in 2018.
“In 2020, the agency’s allocation for personnel cost went up to N1.8 billion, reducing to N1.6 billion in 2021, going up again to N1.9 billion in 2022, even when the workers have not been employed,” the query read.
Responding to the query, Chioma Ejikeme, executive secretary, PTAD, represented by Abdullah Abubakar, senior officer of PTAD, said N1.7 billion was budgeted for personnel costs in 2018 because the agency initially planned to employ new hands.
Ejikeme added that the balance of N310 million was returned to the treasury.
“Our personnel are handled by IPPIS. The balance of the money budgeted was returned to the CRF because we did not employ the staff that we needed to employ. Till date, we are still in need of those workers, but we are yet to get a waiver from the head of service to employ,” she said.
The PTAD boss also said the increase in expenditure, despite not employing new members of staff, was a result of the promotion of existing workers and the need to adjust their salaries in accordance with their new positions.
However, Oke said PTAD committed an offence for failing to utilise the funds given for that specific purpose.
“The head of service and the federal character commission must have carried out a needed assessment on your agency leading to your request for funds to employ. We (parliament) gave you that money but you failed to use it,” Oke said.
“The complaint of most agencies has been lack of funds. But here in PTAD, you got the funds you requested and, yet, failed to use them. You have lied to the parliament through the president and have denied other agencies the use of that money.
“So, we need to see the assessment that was carried out on your agency that led to the parliament giving you this money. By not using this money for what it was meant for, you have committed an offense against the Appropriation Act. But we will give you a right of fair hearing to explain to us the reason(s) for your action.”
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
TheCable understands that Usman Ododo, Kogi governor, brought Bello to Abuja this morning and invited EFCC to come pick him up.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.
However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the former governor.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.
Sources had told TheCable that Bello has been hiding in plain sight — holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the house of representatives to confirm Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).
Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter read by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, during plenary on Tuesday.
Tinubu said Oluyede’s confirmation is in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The president said the army chief’s contribution to the military and Nigeria makes him “well-suited” for the role.
He said Oluyede has been professional in his duties, adding that his confirmation should be done “expeditiously”.
On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.
The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma and his Housing and Urban Development counterpart, Francis Ori.
It was gathered that they were suspended on Monday during the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, which was sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday morning, read, “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.”
It was also learnt that the development may be connected to the alleged theft of pieces of property belonging to the Ministry of Health by its officials and the reported underperformance of the Housing and Urban Development commissioner and his shoddy handling of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the governor was in the health ministry’s premises on Saturday night and met a scene where six officials were caught allegedly diverting government materials.
He, therefore, ordered their arrest and eventual prosecution.
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Governor Nwifuru suspends health, housing commissioners
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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.
She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others
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