Accountability and transparency scandal is currently rocking the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue Service as the Executive Chairman, Mohammed Madami Etsu, has been accused of financial misappropriation and unprofessional conducts.
The Nation learnt that the chairman of the Revenue Service has appointed Special Advisers whom he pays between N900,000 to N1.7 million monthly, which is over 100 per cent more than the wages of the governor’s special advisers who receive less than N900,000 monthly.
It was also learnt that the Chairman of the Revenue Service has expended N29.2 million on air tickets and estacode for his foreign trips and the spending were done without due process in the past one year.
A source who wants to remain anonymous disclosed that Etsu travels abroad frequently to visit his children in Turkey where they school at the expense of the Revenue Board.
When The Nation visited the Board of Internal Revenue, several of the staff who spoke to the reporter pleaded for anonymity as they claimed that whoever speaks out or complains about the happenings in the agency will be punished by the chairman with postings to rural areas.
In a letter written to the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello by Nuhu Edah and Co of Success Chambers, titled: “The brazen abuse and unethical behaviour of Muhammad Madami Etsu, the Executive Chairman of the Niger State Internal Revenue Service (NGIRS)” drew the attention of the state governor to the unprofessional conducts of the Chairman since he assumed office in July 2021.
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The letter obtained by the reporter stated that the chairman since his resumption in office began to involve himself in extreme quests for material acquisition, the kind that will negatively affect the financial position of Niger State.
The letter shared insight on how Etsu transfers experienced members of staff to local government areas in order not to be held accountable and carry out unapproved activities without challenge or anybody raising an eyebrow.
“This is actually a wicked strategy and unholy tactics and if left unchecked has the potency of not only provoking hatred among the staff but capable of running down NGIRS and by implication, the revenue of the state….
“Muhammed Madami Etsu announced that he generated N16 billion of which 10 percent is N1.6 billion but till date, he cannot account for how he spent the N1.6 billion. Etsu gives members of staff 2.2 per cent instead of 10 per cent. He is yet to explain what happened to the remaining 72 per cent”, part of the letter read.
The letter which was signed Nuhu Edah of Success Chambers disclosed that the Chairman appoints new staff which he has no power to do and has appointed his retired friends from the Federal Inland Revenue as coordinating directors and special advisers.
“One of the SA, Aliyu Ango is paid N1,783,444.88 as wages, another is Aliyu Ndayagi who receives N1,241,267.90 as wages per month. There is also Suleiman Isah who receives N928,072.77 and another SA who receives N350,000 per month.
“Sir, the above figures are shocking when compared with the fact that a Governor’s SA receives less than N800,000.00 per month. It should also be noted that the above employees by Muhammed Madami Etsu are not engaged by the state government, and due process has not been followed in their engagement. Additionally, Muhammed Madami Etsu raises two different vouchers every month for a driver to the sum of N350,000.
The Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Akilu Musa Kuta confirmed that some staff have made complaints about the Executive Chairman of the Revenue Service adding that a committee has been set up to look into the issue.