The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pac

  • FRC, PAC collaboration lifts Federal Independent Revenue to over N2tr

    FRC, PAC collaboration lifts Federal Independent Revenue to over N2tr

    A decade-long partnership between the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) and the Public Accounts Committees (PAC) of the National Assembly has significantly improved remittances from government-owned enterprises, boosting the federal government’s independent revenue from N200 billion in 2013 to more than N2 trillion in 2024.

    The Executive Chairman of the FRC, Victor Muruako, Esq., disclosed this at the 2025 National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance held in Abuja.

    Muruako noted that the improved collaboration has been instrumental in driving up remittances from government-owned enterprises.

    This, according to him, has played a crucial role in strengthening the federal government’s independent revenue, a component that remains vital for financing key projects and reducing dependence on borrowing.

    Despite the progress, the FRC Chairman highlighted ongoing challenges affecting fiscal governance at both the federal and subnational levels. 

    These include limited public awareness of fiscal responsibility laws, weak enforcement mechanisms, and the slow domestication of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) across Nigeria’s states. As of 2025, only 26 out of the country’s 36 states have enacted similar legislation.

    The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) Chairman called for the establishment of a National Fiscal Governance Framework to improve policy coordination and fortify oversight institutions responsible for monitoring government spending and revenue collection. 

    He also stressed the importance of aligning fiscal policies at the federal, state, and local government levels with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

    In addition, Muruako urged state and local government officials to adopt and fully implement fiscal responsibility laws modelled on the federal framework. Such measures, he argued, would help institutionalise fiscal discipline, promote prudent financial management, and ensure alignment with national economic priorities.

    A key legislative gap identified by the FRC Chairman is the absence of sanctions within the FRA 2007 for those who violate its provisions. While the Act outlines 54 distinct offences, it stops short of prescribing penalties. 

    Muruako, therefore, appealed for a swift amendment of the law to introduce stronger punishments that could enhance compliance and improve service delivery across government institutions.

    Read Also: Contribute to national development, NAFRC boss tells course graduates

    “The Act must be amended speedily for efficiency and to deliver real value to Nigerians,” he said.

    Muruako also called for strict adherence to constitutional guidelines on public debt and borrowing, areas which remain under the Exclusive Legislative List. This, he argued, would ensure that borrowing at all levels of government aligns with broader economic strategies and safeguards fiscal sustainability.

    During the conference, Muruako acknowledged the efforts of President Tinubu’s administration to strengthen financial policies and create a more robust economic environment. 

    He assured the PAC of the FRC’s continued support in institutionalising sound financial management practices, aimed at reducing leakages, boosting revenue generation, and fostering greater accountability in the use of public resources.

  • Emir urges police, others to support PAC

    The Emir of katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, has urged the police and other security agencies to keep encouraging activities of the Police Assistance Committee (PAC) and Associations of Tradesmen and Artisans in their patriotic zeal of giving useful and vital information to the agencies to assist them in curbing crime increase in the country.

    The emir, who spoke during a seminar/ workshop on intelligence gathering and dissemination of information to security agencies while inaugurating the PAC in Katsina State, appealed to the police and other security agencies to maintain an open-door policy with PAC coordinators and field officers through love and the extension of hands of friendship to them while working as spy agents and informants to assist the agencies through information dissemination.

    Alhaji Usman commended the PAC, led into the state by its Director-General, Dr. Martins John-Oni, for inaugurating the organization in Katsina State to address the increasing rate of crime, while also encouraging the state chapter, local government coordinators and other stakeholders to keep working hard by ensuring that timely and useful information is passed on to security agencies to assist in curbing the increasing rate of crime in the country.

    In his address, Chairman of the occasion, Senator Paulinus Nwogwu, who was the immediate past Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, advised all heads of security agencies in the country to co-operate with members of the PAC.

    Senator Nwogwu called on the government at all levels, local, state and federal,  to give moral and material support to activities of the PAC to enable them keep contributing their quota in addressing security challenges in the country.

    Another royal father at the event, HRH Humphery Ejesieme (JP), commended the body for inaugurating the PAC in Katsina State, urging them to extend the gesture to other states in the country.

  • PAC against corruption

    PAC against corruption

    The Sagay committee should not only work at better perception for President Buhari’s anti-corruption war, it should push for speedier procedures without sacrificing justice 

    The national mood, which clearly favours a consensus against corruption, paints the Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) Against Corruption as the proverbial man come to meet the moment.

    The Sagay team appears peopled by names that boost public confidence.  Prof Sagay himself, vocal silk and human rights activist, needs no introduction.  Prof. Femi Odekunle, professor of criminology, was victim of raw impunity — a grim corruption of power — under the Sani Abacha military dictatorship, when he was roped into an alleged coup.

    Other members, by academic discipline, technical competence or activist temper, appear well positioned to take a holistic look at corruption; and offer fitting response to it by Nigeria’s often slow and dodgy criminal justice system: Dr. Benedicta Daudu, associate professor of International Law, Prof. E. Alemika, a professor of Sociology, Prof. Sadiq Radda, another professor of Criminology, and Hadiza Bala Usman, a civil society organisation activist.  Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, is the committee’s executive secretary.

    If Nigerians seem largely agreed on the imperative to root out corruption in their national life, the international community too appears trenchant in support.  The Sagay committee, therefore, is supported by a US $5million Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund, courtesy of the trio of the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation.  The independent funding would shield the committee from government meddlesomeness, which is good; even if the Buhari Presidency appears in tune with the people’s outrage against corruption, and would appear determined to lead the charge.

    The support fund is to be managed by Trust Africa, a non-government reform body, with presence in more than 25 countries in Africa, with the gospel of reforms to make governance cleaner; by keeping sleaze out of government business, and channelling resources into growth and development triggers.

    So, by local and international anti-corruption consensus, the Sagay committee would appear in good company.  Even the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, under whose charge have come humongous allegations of corruption and mind-boggling sleaze, had ironically weighed in, in support of the Sagay committee, even before the committee was created.

    Just before leaving power, President Jonathan signed into law the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015.  Aside from repealing the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code, the 495-section law, sponsored by Dr. Ali Ahmad, a lawyer and member of the House of Representatives in the 7th National Assembly, made other far-reaching provisions (former CJN, Justice Aloma Muktar, called the law “revolutionary”), all aimed at fastening procedures, without jeopardising justice.

    So, all appears set for the committee to tackle its brief: develop comprehensive interventions for achieving recommended reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system; and advise the president on prosecuting the anti-corruption war.

    So, with the balance of sentiments, is the Sagay committee home and dry?  No.  Media spinning has all but eliminated the concept of manifest goodness in the public space.  Therefore, even the most hideous and morally repugnant of behaviours now claim their equal-opportunity right to be tabled and heard.  Besides, it is trite in British common law, which is the basis for Nigeria’s criminal laws, that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  So, in the infrastructure of public opinion and procedure of the courts, the PAC enjoys no especial advantage: Corruption would not go down without a fight.

    Yet, a rigorous and focused membership, and the mood of the public, can help the committee  to turn the structural disinterestedness into strengths.  Since its mission deemed it worthy and its job well cut out, it must leverage public opinion to further attract and retain public support.  It should therefore project its activity such that the public is doubly convinced that its mission is total elimination of corruption, without prejudice to any vested interest.  If it wins the perception war, and it retains its integrity, the mission would have been half-accomplished.

    On the more technical aspect, however, it should focus on how fast the country can implement the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice law.  The bane of rooting out corruption here is the subversion of the criminal justice system through bungled investigation, cynical stalling of the judicial process by subversive injunctions and outright brazen bribery of judicial officers.  The new law has made provisions for how these anomalies can be tackled.  So, the committee’s starting point would be to recommend how best to implement these sections, as fast as possible.

    Proceeding from these basics, it can then advise the president on whether to set up special tribunals to try corruption cases, with a special bent on judicial procedures with zero tolerance for delay; or designate some courts to solely handle corruption cases.

    The Sagay committee has a historic responsibility.  Its membership has the intellectual and technical competence for the job at hand.  President Buhari, so far from words and action, appears ready.  The people — except, of course, the potentially guilty graft barons — are also eager.

    The committee must, therefore, match its intellectual capacity with clear passion for the job.  It must always remember: Nigeria must kill corruption to prevent corruption from killing it.

  • PAC hails IG’s confirmation

    PAC hails IG’s confirmation

    THE Police Assistance Committee (PAC) has lauded the confirmation of Mr. Suleiman Abba as Inspector General of Police by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    In a statement in Lagos, PAC Director-General, Dr. Martins Oni, described  the confirmation of Abba’s appointment as a manifestation of  blessing and reward of honesty and hard work.

    Dr. Oni urged Abba to brace up to the challenge of his office and come up with fresh ideas that can elevate the performance of the Police.

    He assured the IGP of continuous support from the PAC in the area of information dissemination and intelligence gathering to keep assisting the police and other security agencies in the country.

    The PAC boss asked the IGP to be a team player by carrying along his high ranking officers in his decision-making process and  encourage the senior in their functions and to keep protecting the sovereignty and integrity of Nigeria in line with what obtains in other nations.

  • Insurgency: Jonathan meets Anyaoku, PAC members

    Insurgency: Jonathan meets Anyaoku, PAC members

    To reduce the impact of the current insecurity on the country’s foreign policy, President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday held discussions with the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Anyaoku led members of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations to a breakfast meeting with the President.

    The ex-Commonwealth scribe said the Council also discussed how government activities can be used to check and control insecurity in Nigeria.

    He said: “We are members of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations. These days, international relations have a very strong nexus with domestic circumstances. So we discussed with Mr. President ways of strengthening our international relations both in terms of foreign policy activities and domestic activities.”

    “We are very pleased with the response that we got from Mr. President. He carefully considered all the issues raised with him, he responded accordingly, some immediately, others in due course.”

    “We talked about the impact the current security situation in the country will have on our foreign policy and on our image abroad.”

    “We talked about how the government activities can check and control the security incidents in the country.”

     

  • ‘We can overcome all obastacles’

    ‘We can overcome all obastacles’

    Text of President Goodluck Jonathan’s address at the inauguration of the National Conference in Abuja… yesterday.

    I am delighted to welcome you all to the inauguration of this historic National Conference which promises to be another significant landmark in our efforts to strengthen national unity and consolidate democratic governance in our beloved country.

    I also believe that this National Conference is coming at a very appropriate time. Having just celebrated the first centenary of our country, the most compelling task before us, as we move ahead and contemplate what our nation will be at the end of its second century, is to lay a much stronger foundation for faster development.

    This we can achieve by building a more inclusive national consensus on the structure and guiding principles of state that will guarantee our emergence as a more united, progressive and prosperous nation.

    In our history as a political entity, we have experienced highs and lows but have always forged ahead. To my mind, the fact that we have weathered all storms and continued with the mission of evolving a truly national identity signifies that we are going in the right direction.

    The strongest nations in the world today also went through their own formative stages; some for decades and others for centuries. We must learn from them that nationhood will not happen overnight, especially given the circumstances of our birth as a nation.

    History also teaches that nation-building is a journey of dedication, commitment, diligence, perseverance and patriotic vision. To be successful, nation-builders must continually strive to evolve better and more inclusive societies in which every citizen is a proud and committed stakeholder.

    It was with this objective in mind that we set up the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on the National Conference in October, last year, and charged its members with the responsibility of designing the framework and modalities for a productive National Conference.

    The Committee which submitted its report in December, 2013, was able to reach out to all Nigerians and various interest groups, socio-political groupings, regional and religious elements, professionals, civil society, the organised private sector, labour, youth, women and others to ascertain their views on the initiative.

    The Presidential Advisory Committee established that there was, indeed, a national consensus for this conference to be convened immediately, to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people.

    The National Conference is, therefore, being convened to engage in intense introspection about the political and socio-economic challenges confronting our nation and to chart the best and most acceptable way for the resolution of such challenges in the collective interest of all the constituent parts of our fatherland.

    This coming together under one roof to confer and build a fresh national consensus for the amicable resolution of issues that still cause friction amongst our people must be seen as an essential part of the process of building a more united, stronger and progressive nation.

    We cannot continue to fold our arms and assume that things will straighten themselves out in due course instead of taking practical steps to overcome impediments on our path to true nationhood, rapid development and national prosperity.

    For many years, we have discussed and argued over various issues concerning our national existence and well-being. Much of this national discourse has been conducted through the mass media, both print and electronic. More recently, the advent of the age of ICT and social media has greatly enlarged the space for the discussion of our country’s future.

    Many more young and articulate Nigerians who previously had little access to the traditional mass media have now joined the conversation, motivated by patriotic concern for good governance, peace, stability, justice, equity, fairness and the harmonious co-existence of the diverse groups that make up our great nation.

    Dear compatriots, my administration is convening this National Conference today because we believe that we must assume responsibility for ensuring that the long-running national debate on the best way forward for our country is not in vain.

    It is our expectation that participants in this conference will patriotically articulate and synthesise our peoples’ thoughts, views and recommendations for a stronger, more united, peaceful and politically stable Nigeria, forge the broadest possible national consensus in support of those recommendations and strive to ensure that they are given the legal and constitutional backing to shape the present and the future of our beloved fatherland.

    In inaugurating this national conference today, we are not unmindful of the argument of those who say that we do not need such a conference since we already have an elected parliament and an elected Government in place.

    As cogent as that argument may sound, I have chosen to act on the sincere conviction that in the truly democratic nation we are striving to build, we must never ignore the loudly expressed views of the majority of ordinary Nigerians.

    I have heard that majority say that we need to rebuild trust by involving them in the process of developing a guiding document of our national political relationships which is more acceptable to all sections of the country. I have heard our people say that we need to openly and frankly discuss our problems and seek acceptable solutions instead of allowing them to fester and remain sources of perennial conflict.

    I have also heard them say that, as the elected representatives of our people, we must never arrogate to ourselves all knowledge and wisdom regarding the development of our country.

    And I am in full agreement with

    our people. The power we

    hold is, without question, in trust for the people. Sovereignty belongs to the people. Their voices must be heard and factored into every decision we take on their behalf.

    This National Conference is a very important avenue for the voices of our people to be heard. Our people have yearnings and desires that need to be discussed. Their representatives at this conference are neither usurping the role of the National Assembly nor the Executive. They are complementing us in our march towards a greater and stronger union.

    Over the years, well-meaning Nigerians have drawn attention to inadequacies in our current constitution. Some have described it as a military-inspired document which does not take into full consideration the genuine desires and wishes of the people.

    The phrase in the preamble that says “we, the people,” has been variously criticised as being misleading because, according to the critics, the constitution was not written by the people. There are also those who believe that the constitution is not our problem but the political will to faithfully implement it for the peace and progress of Nigeria.

    While opinions on the matter can be as diverse as rain showers, I believe that irrespective of our personal views on the issue, no one can deny the fact that every constitution is a living document that needs to be revised and improved upon from time to time. The United States, which is the model democracy in the eyes of many, has amended its constitution 27 times since it was first adopted in 1787.

    Some of our compatriots also believe that because we have held several conferences in the past, we do not need to hold another one. I do not share that view at all.

    A deeper look will reveal that the challenges we faced before each of the preceding national conferences were different. The challenges of 1956 are certainly not the challenges of 2014, and definitely not the challenges that the nation will face in years to come. It makes sense, therefore, that as the challenges before us evolve, we must be constant and proactive in our search for fresh solutions. We cannot continue to proffer yesterday’s solutions for today’s problems.

    This conference is open for us to

    table our thoughts and posi

    tions on issues and make recommendations that will advance our togetherness. The issues range from form of government, structures of government, devolution of powers, revenue sharing, resource control, state and local government creation, boundary adjustment, state police and fiscal federalism, to local government elections, indigeneship, gender equality and children’s rights, amongst others.

    We must not approach these issues with suspicion and antagonism. Rather, we should be open-minded and work to achieve what is best for Nigeria. Even though you come to the Conference as nominees and representatives of different interest groups, I urge you all to make a more united, stronger, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria your preoccupation and reference point at this national gathering. Whatever the pressures on you may be, I call upon you to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interests.

    Indeed, I am quite worried when I hear people say that some participants in this National Conversation are coming here to defend and promote ethnic or clannish agenda. It is very regrettable that there are persons who believe that we cannot undertake any collective task in our country without the hindrance of ethnic rivalry even after 100 years of nationhood.

    This conference gives us an opportunity to prove such persons wrong and I believe it will. As we start a new century of nationhood, we have an obligation to reshape and redirect our country for the benefit of our children. There should be no room for divisive cleavages and ethnic jingoism. There should be no room for selfish considerations that defeat the purpose of national progress. There should be room only for the national interest.

    In the 60s, our country was ranked along with some developing countries, including India, Malaysia and South Korea. Today, those countries have moved far ahead of us in several areas. My expectation is that the outcome of this conference will be a positive turning point for our country’s development. We must seize this opportunity to cement the cleavages and fault lines that tend to separate us. We must re-launch our country.

    I know the task before you is onerous; but there must be only one winner, and there can only be one winner if we do everything right, and that winner must be Nigeria. I urge you, therefore, to focus strictly on the Nigerian Agenda.

    I expect that, as persons of integrity and honour, you will do nothing in this conference that will undermine our efforts and desire to build a truly great nation. I also expect that your discussions will be informed only by the noblest of instincts and persuasions.

    Our sole motivation for convening this conference is the patriotic desire for a better and greater nation. We are determined that things must be done in a way and manner that will positively advance that objective.

    While we recognise that groups and communities are the building blocks of our nation, we must also emphasise that we need one another to build the solid and prosperous country of our dreams.

    We cannot join hands together to build with a collective vision if we continue to harbour negative biases and prejudices against ourselves.

    Yesterday’s prejudices should die with yesterday. Today is a new day. This is the dawn of a new era. This is an opportunity to think anew. We must jettison the poisonous mindsets of the past, which were built on unhealthy competition among our diverse groups and peoples.

    We need a new mind and a new spirit of oneness and national unity. The time has come to stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups and regions. We have been divinely brought together under one roof. We must begin to see ourselves as one community. We are joined together by similar hopes and dreams as well as similar problems and challenges. What affects one part of the community affects the other.

    An average Nigerian sees every part of the country as home. Let us seize the opportunity of this conference to do more to further turn our diversity and plurality into unique national resources for strength and greatness.

    I have always affirmed that our ability to stay together despite our acknowledged differences, when other countries are finding it difficult to meet that challenge, is a powerful statement by Nigeria to the world on the virtues of tolerance and unity.

    It is a strong and compelling statement in a world much afflicted by strife and violence. We must sustain it. We must not allow the antagonists of unity and togetherness to prevail. We must work ceaselessly to remain one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity, as our National Anthem says.

    Honourable Chairman and distinguished delegates, I urge you not to be under any illusions as you begin your assignment. The task that lies ahead of you is formidable. Over the coming weeks, you will be confronted with complex and emotive issues; strong views will be expressed by opposing sides and some disagreements will, in all likelihood, be intense.

    I sincerely believe, however, that we can overcome all obstacles to true national unity if we dig deep into the recesses of our national character and look up to God Almighty for wisdom, guidance and the generosity of spirit we need to ensure the success of this conference.

    Once again, I wish to express my appreciation to the Nigerian people who have, without hesitation, accepted dialogue as a means of resolving all differences and tensions that may exist in the country, and therefore, given their unequivocal support for this National Conference.

    Let me at this point thank the National Assembly for introducing the provision for a referendum in the proposed amendment of the constitution. This should be relevant for this conference if at the end of the deliberations, the need for a referendum arises. I therefore urge the National Assembly and the state houses of assembly to speed up the constitutional amendment process, especially with regard to the subject of referendum.

    I thank the Chairman, Senator Femi

    Okurounmu, and members of the

    Presidential Advisory Committee for the arduous work they undertook to prepare for the conference. I also thank the Chairman of this National Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, the principal officers and all the distinguished patriots and representatives of our people who have taken time off their busy personal schedules to serve the cause of national unity and progress at this conference.

    I am confident that we are embarking on a landmark journey that will make us stronger as a nation if we undertake it with all sense of purpose and sincerity. Let us do that which is selfless, purposeful and patriotic so that history will remember us for having served our nation well.

    In conclusion, I urge all officials and participants in the national conference to work extra hard to ensure that their deliberations are completed on schedule, well ahead of the schedule of events for the next general elections already announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Let me again repeat what I have been saying that Goodluck Jonathan has no personal agenda in convening this national conference.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, I now have the honour and privilege of declaring the National Conference open, for the good of our nation and to the glory of God Almighty who has brought us together.

  • Pac to train members for Anambra supplementary poll

    Pac to train members for Anambra supplementary poll

    Police Assistance Committee and Association of  Tradesmen and Artisans are conducting a one-day training programme for its zonal, state ad unit coordinators in Anambra State on how to assist the police, Department of State Security Service  (DSS) and other security agencies with information during the rescheduled governorship election coming up in the state.

    The training programme fixed for Awka on Tuesday November 26 will draw PAC/ATA members from all the local government areas in the state.

    Speaking on the training, Director-General of PAC/ATA, Dr. Martins J. Oni said the special one-day seminar was designed to re-orientate their members on the task of gathering intelligence in secrecy to keep assisting the police and other security agencies during important national assignments.

    Dr. Oni explained that the PAC/ATA members with their grassroots presence in every nook and cranny of the country possess the numerical strength to provide support through information dissemination to assist both security agencies and other election monitoring groups as well as officials of the National Electoral Commission (INEC) for effective monitoring of the election.

    The organisation appealed to all political parties, their candidates, participating in the election and their party officials, collating results at the polling booths to play the game by the rules and avoid any manipulation of the electoral processes.

    While also calling on the INEC officials to be of good conduct during the re-scheduled elections, the body equally appealed to the police and other security agencies, monitoring the election to cooperate with their members by giving them access to pass information to them in secrecy during the exercise.