By Philomina Attah

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned against project duplication.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave the warning at a Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Cost of Governance in Nigeria, hosted by the ICPC in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Owasanoye said that thousands of projects were repeated annually in the budget, without diligent scrutiny of need, implementation or otherwise.

He added that some projects were duplicated as annual zonal intervention projects, otherwise called constituency projects of the legislature, while also featuring as projects of the executive.

Funding is released for both insertions without any mechanism for monitoring and evaluation and reconciliation of the funding, he said.

Owasanoye cited the recent case of a road project executed by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, but was also awarded as an executive project.

He said the incident rightly became the subject of an inquiry by the legislature.

ICPCs response to this challenge is not only to track selected projects, but we annually digitise executive and constituency projects and upload same on our website for citizen verification, through our toll free line.

The breakdown of projects for 2021 has already been uploaded on our website and we encourage the public to become watchdogs of projects in their communities.

We are working with the budget office to track funding of such projects as we prepare for our 2021 tracking of constituency and executive projects, he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the second area of concern was payroll padding and the phenomenon of ghost workers and abuse of recruitment.

He further explained that from ICPC findings in health and medical institutions, a lot of agencies still engaged in unapproved recruitment without obtaining the consent of all relevant organs of government.

Owasanoye said it appeared that such malfeasance enjoyedthe cooperation of some unscrupulous elements in the IPPIS.

Happily, government is looking closely at this towards taking corrective measures. ICPC is a part of that process, he said.

Prof. Tunde Babawale, Acting Provost, Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), said Nigerians across board were uncomfortable with the ever-increasing cost of governance that the country had historically experienced.

He said research findings had shown that corruption had been a major cause of the ballooning cost of governance in Nigeria.

The essence of the policy dialogue is to exchange ideas with key stakeholders, with a view to finding a common ground and consensus on the policy matter being discussed.

The dialogue will address this critical issue and analyse it as part of efforts to assist the commission and its academy to achieve the objectives outlined in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).

Thisincludes the promotion of an improved legal, policy and regulatory environment for the fight against corruption, he said.

He said that there was near consensus among Nigerians that the country would make significant progress, if the wasteful practices of public officials could be curbed.

On his part, Mr Ben Akabueze, Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, in his presentation entitled: Reducing the Cost of Governancein Nigeria said that Nigerias system of democratic governance was considered to be very expansive and expensive.

It is important to minimise corruption and reduce cost of governance in Nigeria on which critical steps need to be taken.

We need to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects, to enable us reap the benefits of such projects and save variation costs, including projects that relate to matters that are the responsibilities of the state and local governments, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Adekunle Williams

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended three local government council chairmen over alleged disregard for the rules governing their activities.

The affected chairmen are: Ogidan Olaitan of Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Suleiman Jelili of Alimosho Local Government and Tajudeen Ajide of Surulere Local Government.

The House announced their suspension through a voice vote during the plenary shortly after Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) raised a complaint against one of the suspended chairman.

The House said it could no longer continue to watch the council chairmen flouting the states local government guidelines governing their activities.

Yusuff, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, told the House how Olaitan had been allegedly unruly and had disregard for the assembly members.

He complained that Olaitan accused the lawmakers of carrying out an oversight function on a memorandum of understanding in relation to an issue that arose from a resettlement programme in Lekki.

The lawmaker further said that the council chairman had total disregard for those in his domain whom he was elected to govern.

Commenting, Mr Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju-Lekki 1), accused Jelili and Ajide of questioning the House for investigating the councils based on the petitions raised by their counsellors.

Mojeed then urged his colleagues to suspend the chairmen pending the outcome of the investigations on the allegations made against them to serve as deterrent to others.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, while speaking on the issue, noted that the House had received petitions from many councillors in the state against some serving chairmen.

Obasa said the House could not continue to watch while council chairmen flout the laws that they were supposed to uphold.

Total disregard for local government guidelines is something that should not be tolerated.

We cannot continue like this. We cant be breeding monsters in our local government councils, Obasa said.

Obasa said it would not be ideal to gloss over the issues as it would be creating a precedence of disobedience to the law by council chairmen especially at a time the state was planning elections into the councils.

According to him, we have received too many petitions from their councillors against many chairmen, this is the time to take action.

The speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to write Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders on the decision of the House. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Mr Romanus Eze, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State chapter, says the biggest challenge of farmers in the country is herders harassment in their farmlands.

Eze told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday that farmers constant attacks by the herders had put fears in them.

He said that many farmers had abandoned their farmlands for fear of attack adding that it posed a serious problem to food security not only in the state but Nigeria at large.

Lots of farmers face herders attack in Enugu State and this challenge makes it difficult for farmers to access their farm lands.

Most of the farmers are into the Anchor Borrowers Programme and destruction of farmers lands by herders becomes anightmare for them, he said.

According to Eze, the development has made prices of farm inputs and foodstuff to be high in markets.

He lamented the effect of untimely delivery of Anchor Borrowers Programme inputs to farmers, adding that such did not speak well for the programme and the farmers.

Many farmers have been profiled into Anchor Borrowers Programme on Cassava, Maize and Rice in Enugu State.

Most of the inputs have not been delivered to the farmers and this is the fifth month of the year.

Timing of inputs delivery matters a lot because delivering the input out of the season will be of no benefit to the farmers, he said.

The chairman noted that the first quarter of the 2021 farming season had gone and yet government had not flagged-off the farming season.

According to him, most farmers, with or without the government intervention, have already started farming.

The farmers started with land preparation in December and January depending on the climate change.

Now, many of the farmers have started planting, though the rain is not steady.

Government needs to support and encourage farmers with quality seeds and advise them on how to go about commercial farming, Eze said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joy Mbachi

Sen.Victor Umeh, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has given his backing to governorship aspiration of Prof Charles Soludo, former Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), governor.

Umeh said that Soludo as an experienced expert, had a lot to offer going by his remarkable contributions in rebuilding Nigeria economy.

He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka.

According to the senator, Prof Soludo stands as the best candidate for the elective post.

Umeh a former Senator for Anambra Central Senatorial District, described the political aspirations of Soludo as apt as Anambra needed a leader that would consolidate on the success of APGA in the state.

He said that Soludo, as an experienced expert in the economy sector, would deploy a magical wand that would place Anambra above other states of the country.

Anambra, as a state, is not a test running centre, candidate with grand knowledge like Soludo is what we desire; yes Anambra has quality men but for governance, Soludo has a different Solution, he said.

Umeh urged electorates and party faithful to be focused and elect best hand for the governorship seat for the party and work as a team to achieve greater electoral success.

We need to be more united and form a common front for the interest of the party, the state and Igbo extraction in general; Anambra is heart beat of political activities in Igbo land, he said.

Umeh described the test run of flights at the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, as the seal of Governor Obianos great achievements.

Anambra needs a man with capacity to consolidate and take it to greater heights, he said.

He said that APGA is the only identity platform for Igbo states to use to negotiate for strongernational presence and pleaded that the chance must not be a miss. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully thwarted Boko Haram Terrorists attempt to infiltrate into Rann Town in Kala Balge Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno on May 1.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Yerima said that the terrorists in their number attempted to breach the border town but were met with stiff resistance from the troops who engaged them in a fierce fire fight that lasted about an hour.

He said the terrorists withdrew in disarray with a large number of them suffering fatal injuries leaving behind several weapons and ammunition.

According to him, equipment recovered from the terrorists include anti aircraft gun barrel, AK 47 rifle, hand held communication radio and different calibres of ammunition.

Army spokesperson disclosed that troops also engaged another band of terrorists who attacked Ajiri town in Konduga LGA of the state on May 2.

He said that the terrorists entered part of the town, burnt nine houses and killed some innocent residents before they were engaged by the troops deployed in the area.

According to him, the retreating terrorists escaped with various degrees of gun shot injuries while the gallant troops are on their chase.

Unfortunately however, two personnel paid the supreme price in the resulting encounter.

The Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, commended the troops for their resilience and determination to keep their areas free of terrorists activities.

He further charged them to sustain the renewed vigour in discharging their duties, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Antswen

The Police in Benue have confirmed attacks by some gunmen on communities in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack on Monday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The police spokesperson said the command was yet to receive full details of the incident.

Anene said that gunmen in the early hours of Monday attacked Mbamondu and Vengav, in Avihijime council ward in Udam and Tse Amgbem close to Aondona, all in Gwer West Local Government.

She, however, said that the Command was also yet to get full details of the attack on the communities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

The Kogi Government has said that it is working hard with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safe return of Mr Pius Kolawole, the abducted Chairman of Yagba West Local Governments Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in Lokoja.

We wish to report, with every sense of sobriety, the unfortunate attack by some gunmen on a Commissioner in the Kogi Pension Commission, Late Solomon Adebayo and also the Chairman of Yagba West LGA, Pius Kolawole, on their way back to the state from Kwara.

We can confirm authoritatively that the unfortunate incident happened shortly after Eruku, Ekiti Local Government, Kwara. Adebayo died as a result of gun wounds sustained from the sad incident.

The whereabouts of the Chairman of Yagba West LGA is still unknown but security agencies in both Kwara and Kogi, as well as local security services are working hard to ensure the safe return of the chairman, Fanwo said.

He noted that in spite of the incident happening on Saturday, the Kogi Government had been circumspect in making official statements in order not to do anything to throw into jeopardy, the efforts of security agencies on the matter.

But it is also incumbent on a responsible Government like ours to speak to our people and assure them that Kogi will spare nothing to remain the safest in the country.

We also wish to caution those making statements which are capable of undermining the security of the state to desist from such an unpatriotic wish for anomie.

It is high time we came together to make our nation safe, secured and governable.

The Government and the people of Kogi are also determined to make Kogi peaceful and safe. Our Government has the backing of the people and the security agencies to keep Kogi safe, Fanwo said.

He further commiserated with the family of the late Solomon Adebayo, the people of Yagba West and the entire Kogi Pension Commission over his demise.

He described the late pension board commissioner as a hardworking and patriotic gentleman who contributed immensely to the states Pension Administration Revolution, saying he would be sorely missed.

We thank all good spirited agencies and private individuals who have stood with us in this dark time.

As a government, we will recommit ourselves to collaborating with neighboring States to ensure security of lives and property. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has reconvened the meeting of the National Security Council, which started on May 30, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting was called by the president to continue deliberations on issues of national security concern.

Those in attendance at todays meeting include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

Others are the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi and the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.- Gen. Babagana Monguno, as well as the acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff; Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo, are also in attendance at the crucial meeting.

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Service Chiefs will on Thursday brief the Senate on the security situation of the country.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, made the announcement at the commencement of Tuesdays plenary in Abuja.

The service chiefs were to appear before the upper chamber on Tuesday but was shifted due to the National Security Council meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the upper chamber had in a resolution on April 27, summoned the Service Chiefs to brief lawmakers on steps taken so far to address rising security challenge in the country.

The Senates resolution was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Sen. Sani Musa (APC-Niger).

The motion was on the activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in some Local Government Areas of Niger and other parts of Nigeria.

Today, the National Security Council is continuing with its meeting that started last week. Therefore, the invited security heads will not be able to come for the briefing.

We are not sure if they will finish their meeting today (Tuesday). We assume it could spill to Wednesday too.

So to be on the side of caution, we have now fixed the date for the briefing to be Thursday, May 6.

I want to appeal to all of us that the briefing will take from the service chiefs and other security agencies and will be very crucial for us to be properly informed, properly guided.

And if there is any request for supplementary budget, we should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request, he said.

Lawan added that on Thursday, the only item on the Order Paper would be the briefing.

We will do that as a special day for the engagement, the interaction between the Senate and the service chiefs, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

An Owerri based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Save Imo, has commended Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo for his efforts towards infrastructure development.

Chief Ebubeagu Ekenulo, an Activist and convener of the group said this in a statement in Abuja..

Ekenulo said Uzodinma had achieved alot in the area of infrastructure in a very short period of assuming office as governor of the state.

He urged sponsors of insecurity in the state to exercise restraint in order not to scare investors away from the state.

We stand by Gov hope Uzodinma on good governance and rapid infrastructure development of Imo and we hereby commend His Excellency on these.

We want to advise the perpetrators and sponsors of attacks to desist as the attacks and banditry are seemingly destroying the economy of Imo and South East, which all of us will suffer.

Investors are now scared to invest their money in Imo. No investor want to invest in a volatile state, he said.

The activist however, called on the governor to prioritise on security, youth development and empowerment to curb youth restlessness in the state.

Ekenulo emphasised the imperatives of ending the militarisation of the state which he said was not the solution to the attacks.

We advise for use of intelligence policing, information gatherings and adoption of technology based tools to checkmate attacks and terrorism.

We advise government to look beyond to fish out the perpetrators of the acts of terrorism against our dear state, he said.

He, however, cautioned opposition parties and other detractors to watch their utterances against inflamatory remarks capable of plunging the state into further crisis, warning them to be prepared to face the consequences if found incriminating.

We urge all men and women of good will in the state to join hands in condemning the bombing of the country home of His Excellency, Gov Hope Uzodinma and other attacks across South East and Nigeria at large, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News