Offences Commission has traced N292m to the account of one of the
permanent secretaries that were retired on Tuesday, The PUNCH has
learnt.
It was gathered on Thursday that the ICPC made the discovery during the
discreet investigations into the five months the permanent secretaries
presided over ministries in the absence of ministers.
Anti-graft investigators were said to have commenced probe into the
permanent secretaries’ reign shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari
submitted the ministerial list to the Senate.
It was learnt that the investigators became curious upon discovery that
the account of one of the permanent secretaries swelled up to N292m in
the last five months.
Our correspondents learnt that three more permanent secretaries might
also face trial for alleged corruption. There had been a report on
Thursday that five former permanent secretaries would face trial for
alleged corruption.
It was learnt that the ICPC’s investigations were not limited to permanent
secretaries that were compulsorily retired on Tuesday but also those who
served in the past five months and still in service.
Findings showed that the ICPC might invite some of the permanent
secretaries for interrogation upon the completion of its investigation next
week.
A source in the ICPC, who confided in one of our correspondents, said, “It
is true that the ICPC is probing the activities of the permanent secretaries.
About N292m was traced to the account of one of the recently retired
permanent secretaries.
“The commission has concluded investigating some of the permanent
secretaries while others are still being investigated. For those that we
have concluded investigations on them, we have sent their files to relevant
places for action.
“It is not exactly true that those who were not sacked by the President in
the recent exercise are innocent. They are also being investigated.”
It was also learnt the ICPC had been investigating some directors and that
the Federal Government had directed anti-graft agencies to place
emphasis on recovery of funds from corrupt former public officers.
A Presidency source stated, “I can tell you that the focus of the
government is changing. The President is more interested in recouping
the stolen money.
“The President and his advisers are not unmindful of the fact that
prosecution could take a long time. The President is more interested in
recouping the money.
“What is happening is that the anti-graft agencies go for the facts, very
strong facts that cannot be denied, confront the people with the evidence
and ask them to return the funds if they don’t want to go to jail.
“And many of them are cooperating. I can tell you for sure that people are
returning money.”
Our correspondent could not get the Resident Consultant, Media and
Event, of the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, to react as his telephone indicated
that it was switched off or in an area outside network coverage.
Buhari however on Thursday warned civil servants at all levels that his
administration would not condone any act of indiscipline and corrupt
practices.
He also justified his administration’s decision to drop the previous
practice of administering written and oral examinations on civil servants
for ascension to the rank of permanent secretaries.
Buhari spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after administering
oaths of office on 16 out of the 18 new permanent secretaries whose
appointments were approved on Tuesday, after retiring 17.
The remaining two new permanent secretaries were said to be out of the
country as of the time their appointments were announced and that they
would take their oaths at a later date.
The President said the responsibilities bestowed on the permanent
secretaries were enormous and that the success or otherwise of the
government would depend on their competence, ability and capacity to
discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
He said, “I must, however, sound a note of warning. It is within public
domain that ministers as chief executives of their ministries as well as
other government officials involved in policy formulation and
implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence,
indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelons of
the civil service.
“Even where permanent secretaries, in some instances, are exempted
from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to
provide the required leadership, control and direction.
“This administration will not condone any excesses, indifference,
incompetence and corrupt practices in any form.
“Permanent Secretaries are therefore advised to note these words of
caution and disseminate them to all civil servants accordingly.
“I am sure the permanent secretaries and all other civil servants
appreciate the fact that I have always considered the civil service as an
indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty. I, therefore,
consider the service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this
country for the better.”
Buhari said if Nigeria would realise its full potential for greatness, its civil
service must first understand and accept the “change mantra” of the
present administration and lead its spread through all the institutions of
governance and the economy.
He said his administration would give all the necessary support,
protection and encouragement to the civil service to do its work, adding
that he had faith in the ability and quality of the Nigerian civil service to
provide stability and the desired change.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Voters’ Assembly, Mashood
Erubami, has backed efforts of the Buhari administration to sanitise the
civil service.
Erubami, in an interview with one of our correspondents, supported the
merging of ministries by the President.
He said, “The adoption of alignment and merger of ministries towards
sanitising the civil service and improving the efficient service delivery in
the public service also fit with the portfolios,” he said.
Erubami added that Buhari had met the expectations of the people by
putting round pegs in round holes.
He said, “The posting of Prof (Isaac) Adewole to man the Ministry of
Health is an indeed a round peg in a round hole just as Abubakar Malami
in the Ministry of Justice. Other ministers who might not have been
posted to ministries of their professional callings are also in good stead
because of their accrued knowledge, experiences and exposure in general
administration.
“We had looked for ministers that have the genuine interest of the country
in their hearts and love the country. We had expected ministers who
would think beyond the box, come together to discuss and set standards
for their own programmes and policies that will stand them out as the
best crops of ministers that Nigeria will ever have.
“However for these ministers to be valuable to the people and the nation,
they will be expected to rise up immediately after the allotment of
portfolios and show daily commitment to actions, which will meet the
genuine expectation of the people. This should be so because the
immediate past government had inflicted lots of damage in the lives of
people as a result of years of clueless and directionless governance.”
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