The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SURE-P

  • SURE-P: 10,000 youths to benefit from training

    SURE-P: 10,000 youths to benefit from training

    Mr Peter Esele, the Convener, Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Technical Vocational Education and Training (T-VET), said 10,000 Nigerians would benefit from SURE-P’s Client –Based training in 2014.

    Esele said this at the inauguration of the SURE-P’s funded up-skilling programme for artisans organised in collaboration with the National Institute of Building (NIOB) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    NAN report said there were two main training components of the SURE-P; the client-based training and citizen based training.

    According to him, a total of 10,000 young Nigerians will benefit from our client based programme, while 3,700 will benefit from the citizen based training this year.

    “ The client-based training is targeted at training beneficiaries for employment by Federal Government institutions.

    “It is also for unskilled training of artisans in specific sectors of the Nigerian economy, such as in building construction by agencies of the government mandated to conduct such training.”

    Esele said that SURE-P’s partnership with NIOB was in line with the client-based component, adding that it would benefit building and construction industries across the country.

    He noted that beneficiaries from the trade area would include; masons, tillers, electricians, carpenters, pop and plumbers.

    Esele said the second component which was the citizen-based training, would be provided by evaluated and verified private and public training centres.

    According to Esele, the training will take place simultaneously in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.

    “The beneficiaries would be trained in agriculture, ICT, water transport and maritime, oil and gas, creative art, telecom and building construction.’’

    He charged the beneficiaries to ensure that they improved their service delivery to their clients, particularly in the area of quality and timely services.

    Esele said that T-VET was domiciled at the Ministry of Labour to ensure the sustainability of the programme, irrespective of the presence of SURE-P.

    “That is why TVET is domiciled in the ministry of labour, so that whether SURE-P is there or not, the ministry will continue to work with NIOB to make sure that more Nigerian youths are employed.

    “ It would also ensure that more Nigerian youths are given the skills to be independent, stand on their feet, and be productive and contribute to the growth of Nigeria.’’

  • 100 vehicles for Benue SURE-P scheme

    100 vehicles for Benue SURE-P scheme

    The Ibrahim Babangida Square (IBB) in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, is a popular venue for hosting local and international events.

    The square hosted about 8,800 beneficiaries of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) from the 23 local government areas of the state.

    During the event, Governor Suswam launched 100 vehicles comprising 50 taxis and 50 buses for the SURE-P transportation scheme.

    Suswam said some beneficiaries of the programme would be employed as teachers; some as nurses and would be posted to schools and hospitals in the state.

    He said 500 sportsmen and women were undergoing training in sports development.

    The governor said the programme is for unemployed youths, warning that he will sanction any civil servant who takes part in the scheme.

    He said: “Government has concluded arrangement to absorb participants of   SURE-P into the public service after retirement, noting that only those who performed exceptionally would be considered.”

    On the transportation scheme, Governor Suswam said 100 vehicles have been procured for the initial take off, while more vehicles would be made available as the scheme grows.

    Earlier, Chairman of SURE-P Implementation Committee and the state’s Head of Service, Mr. Terna Ahua said under the Subsidy Re-investment programme, 8,800 youths have been engaged and are participating in key sectors after undergoing re-orientation.

    Mr. Ahua further said those engaged would soon receive letters of posting to any of the 23 local government areas of the state.

    He said the beneficiaries were lucky, even as he advised them to make optimal use of the opportunity.

    High point of the event was cutting of the tape by Governor Suswam to launch the 100 vehicles for the scheme.

  • 180 vehicles for SURE-P taxi scheme

    180 vehicles for SURE-P taxi scheme

    The Eagle Square in Abuja, is popular venue for local and international events.

    It recently hosted the launch of the 180 new vehicles for the second batch of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Subsidy Re-Investment Programme Taxi Scheme. Senate President, David Mark performed the launch.

    The FCTA had banned rickety buses from the roads in a bid to sanitise the transportation sector of the FCT.

    Announcing the ban, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed said his administration would float decent transportation scheme befitting of Abuja as a federal capital city.

    He subsequently inaugurated the first batch of the scheme, the recent inauguration of the 180 taxi cabs has brought the number of taxis plying Abuja roads to 340.

    At the launch of the 180 vehicles, Senator Mark, who was represented by the Senate Deputy Leader and Chairman of Senate Committee on SURE-P, Senator Abdul Ningi hailed the FCTA for making good its pledge to alleviate the pains associated with the ban on rickety buses that ply roads in the FCT.

    His words: “Yours is indeed, an administration that identifies with the plight of the people. I commend you for listening to the citizens. The foundation of every successful democracy is dialogue and giving ear to the voice of the people.”

    The Senate President also assured that the Senate would expedite action on the Bills for the establishment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Board of Internal Revenue and the FCT Property Tax.

    He reiterated that quick consideration of the bills would enable the FCT to leverage its revenue base with a view to funding its key infrastructure and public service programmes.

    Speaking at the launch, Senator Mohammed said: “Today’s launch of 180 taxis is the second phase of the scheme to prove a point that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is, indeed, working in the FCT.

    He revealed that it was yet another important milestone in the fulfilment of the pledge made to the people; adding that “with this, we have succeeded in introducing 340 taxis into the system.”

    The minister further said the ban on the operation of mini-buses on roads of Abuja was necessitated by the need to sanitise the public transportation system with a view to bringing it at par with global best practices.

    He said: “We have recorded significant reduction in crimes, road accidents, pollution and other socio-economic consequences that had hitherto hindered the development of the city.”

    Senator Mohammed emphasised that the FCT transportation sector has received significant investments under the SURE-P intervention programme.

    “My administration has so far released N1 billion to the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Limited for the rehabilitation of its buses as well as the purchase of new ones,” he said.

    He further disclosed that the sum of N1 billion was also released to the Abuja Investment Company Limited to enable it to float the FCT SURE-P Taxi Scheme, in addition to the injection of 300 high capacity buses by the Federal Government in 2012.

    The minister also said discussion between the FCT Administration and some banks had reached advanced stage for the funding of additional 500–700 taxis to ply all the nook and cranny of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He commended the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company and his crop of professionals for playing effective role in anchoring private sector participation in the transformation of the FCT.

    He said: “We have engaged nearly 4,000 participants, mainly women and youths, into various departments and agencies. These include the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Parks and Recreation as well as the six area councils of the FCT.”

    Also speaking, the Group Managing Director, Abuja Investment Company Limited, Dr. Musa Ahmed Musa said the implementation of the FCT SURE-P/AICL Taxi Scheme, on behalf of the FCT Administration commenced in May last year with the release of N500 million by the FCT SURE-P.

    Dr Musa revealed that the first batch of the scheme comprising 160 vehicles were procured at a unit cost of N2. 7 million covering the cost of vehicle; one year comprehensive insurance; GPS tracking system; registration/number plate as well as painting and branding.

    According to him, each of the vehicles was given out to the beneficiaries based on three-year lease period with 10 per cent subsidy on the total cost of the vehicle.

  • Jonathan appoints new heads for SURE-P,NTA, NAN, FRCN, others

    President Goodluck Jonathan last night named new Chairman and deputy chairman for SURE-P and new chief executives for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    In the statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President also named new special advisers for NEPAD and National Assembly.

    It reads: “In furtherance of efforts to continually strengthen his administration on all fronts, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the following appointments to fill existing vacancies: Gen. Martin Luther Agwai – Chairman of SURE-P, Mrs. Tanwa Olusi – Deputy Chairman of SURE-P.

    “Mrs. Fidelia Njeze – Special Adviser (NEPAD), Senator Suleiman M. Ajadi – Special Adviser (NASS), Mr. Sola Omole – DG, NTA, Alhaji Ladan Salihu – DG, FRCN and Mr. Ima Niboro – MD, News Agency of Nigeria”

    “Gen. Martin Agwai (rtd.) was until now the Deputy Chairman and Acting Chairman of SURE-P while Mrs. Njeze is the current Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland.”

    All the appointments, according to the statement, are with immediate effect.

  • Kudos, knocks as Senate begins budget debate

    Kudos, knocks as Senate begins budget debate

    •Northeast rejects N2billion development fund

    The Senate yesterday began the clause-by-clause consideration of the 2014 budget.

    Though some lawmakers hailed the fiscal estimates, others saw it as the nation’s worst.

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba described the budget proposal as well structured to improve and address critical areas of the economy.

    But Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) described it as the “worst deal for Nigerians”.

    Ndoma-Egba said the Appropriation Bill sought to authorise the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation with N4.642 trillion as against last year’s N4.9 trillion.

    The Senate Leader outlined the budget breakdown as follows: Statuary transfers = N399,687,801,891; Debt Service = N712,000,000,000; Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure = N2,430,665,361,597 and Contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure = N1,100,606,836,512.

    Ndoma-Egba noted that the capital expenditure outlay of the budget was deliberately structured to address critical areas of the economy.

    He said: “Some of the sectoral allocations that are meant to galvanise and reduce the infrastructure deficit as well as enhance inclusive condo mic growth are: SURE-P = N268.37 billion; Power = N99.05 billion; Works = N128.65 billion; Defence = N34.33 billion; Police = N6.7 billion; Education = N725.94 billion; Agriculture/Rural Development = N66.64 billion; Health = N262.74 billion and INEC = N45 billion.”

    The Senate Leader insisted that the drop in the 2014 budget estimates, notwithstanding, “the proposal is a framework that will certainly consolidate and add impetus to the transformation agenda of this administration and promote economic growth, wealth creation, poverty reduction and service delivery to Nigerians”.

    Ndoma-Egba called for equity in the distribution of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds since it is a “contribution being made by all Nigerians.”

    He decried the dwindling allocation to the Judiciary since 2011, saying inadequate funding would stifle its statutory duties.

    Senate President David Mark urged the senators to examine the proposal from the national perspective.

    He said: “We should see the budget with national and not party periscope. We should not reduce it to party issue.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said the budget was the most important bill before the Senate.

    He urged the Executive to ensure that it is sincerely implemented after its passage by the National Assembly.

    He said: “As a parliament, we will not want any project to be abandoned.”

    Senate Minority Leader George Akume (APC, Benue) regretted that though the budget represents the engine room of growth and development in any economy, the Minister of Finance had not presented relevant documents to the Senate to enable the legislators make meaningful contributions.

    The senator faulted the use of SURE-P funds for too many things, instead of concentrating them on specific sectors of the economy.

    He wondered why the Federal Government was making allocation for the Joint Venture Cash Call when other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member-states had stopped the practice.

    Akume noted that though N268 billion was voted for SURE-P, Nigerians were still running abroad for medical treatment.

    He said the SURE-P funds were being expended on areas where the rich and the privileged in the country lived.

    According to him, though there are several guest houses in the Presidency, N700 million has been voted for another VIP lodge in the Villa while a teaching hospital is allocated a paltry N300 million.

    Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) said: “I will describe this budget as the worst deal for Nigerians.”

    Majority of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators shouted him down for the comment. The intervention of the Senate President saved the situation from degenerating into a shouting match.

    Mark warned that lawmakers should be allowed to make their contributions, whether positive or negative, without interference.

    Lawan said while budgets in other countries help the poor and vulnerable in any society, Nigeria’s budgets are used to feather the nests of the rich and powerful.

    The senator regretted that though the 2013 recurrent expenditure was fully implemented with other extra-budgetary spending, the capital budget only had about 50 per cent performance.

    According to him, while five million Nigerians get 74 per cent of the budget – which represents the recurrent expenditure – the remaining 165 million people are left with 26 per cent – which is for capital expenditure.

    Lawan said of the 26 per cent capital expenditure, the government might end up implementing only half of it.

    This, the senator said, would translate to 13 per cent for Nigerians.

    He insisted that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had failed in her job because the recurrent expenditure had increased to the detriment of the capital expenditure.

    Lawan said: When Dr Okonjo-Iweala took office in 2011, the recurrent and capital expenditure were 74 and 26 per cent; 71.5 and 29.5 per cent recurrent and capital expenditure for 2012; while the recurrent and capital expenditure in 2013 were 68 per cent and 31 per cent. The 2014 budget has reverted to 74 and 26 per cent recurrent and capital expenditure.

    “I want to call on the Minister of Finance to throw in the towel because she has not been able to achieve what the administration wanted her to achieve. This is because there are no safety nets for the citizens.”

    He regretted that while the amnesty programme and money voted for the reintegration of former militants gulped N59 billion, the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence got N34 billion.

    He rejected the government’s N2 billion proposed for the Northeast Development Initiative when the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) got N61 billion; the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs got N41 billion and N22 billion for the East-West Road.

    Lawan said: “We must fund the development of the Northeast. We cannot be pushed out of Nigeria. While we are losing revenue as a result of oil theft and we are supposed to turn to other sources of revenue for the country, it is lamentable that N1.4 trillion is provided for waivers and concessions this year.

    “I want to clarify that I have nothing against the Southsouth or the Niger Delta. In fact, I have been a supporter of the Niger Delta from my House of Representatives days to this day. But what I said is that the funds proposed for the Defence, that is for the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Ministry of Defence headquarters is far low, compared to what is earmarked for 30,000 militants and the amnesty programme.

    “The amnesty programme and the 30,000 militants will have N52 billion while Defence will have just about N34 billion. What we are saying is that we have a state of emergency in the Northeast and that security agents should be well funded.

    “Our state carries the burden of funding security agencies in our place. Why don’t we fund these security agencies better when you are taking so much money for what, in my opinion, is not more important than the security of our people…”

     

  • ‘Nigerians should ask what govt is doing with SURE-P cash’

    A director in the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga has challenged Nigerians to ask their various governments, whether local, state or federal, what they are doing with their SURE-P funds.

    Nkanga said SURE-P funds are shared between the three tiers of government with the purpose of helping the federal government to fast track development in the various communities in the country and that the funds must be well utilised.

    The retired air force officer said that it was wrong for Nigerians to only focus on the Federal Government regarding the development of their areas when the other tiers get substantial part of the SURE-P fund, saying that the fund was made for good governance for the people.

    Speaking in Aba during the flag-off and monitoring of SURE-P/FERMA public works on roads in the Southeast, Nkanga who is the Southsouth representative on the FERMA board, said that it is only when the people monitor the movement of the funds that government at various levels will be up and doing in the discharge of their duties.

    Nkanga who represented the chairman of FERMA board, Chief Ezekiel Adeniji, said that the FERMA SURE-P public work programme has already employed 6294 youths across the country and expressed hope that before end of the year it would engage 10000 youths who are paid N18,000 monthly.

    He said that the present administration decided to start the SURE-P because of the youths in the country with the aim of allowing them to be gainfully employed, “So that they will not trouble their parents until they gain admission into a higher institution of their choice”.

    The FERMA board member called on the states and Local Governments to deploy their own share of the funds to engage the youths as part of the President Jonathan’s fight against youth unemployment.

    Nkanga said that the introduction of SURE-P is part of good governance for the people of the country, saying, “Good governance brings peace while bad governance bring anarchy and youth restiveness, but the present government under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan is out to correct the ills of the society through the SUR-P programme”.

    He said, “This is a social security programme designed by the President for the youths and in the last two years over 2000 Federal Roads have been maintained, over 200 communities connected by rail and thousands of youths engaged and by the end of the year the FERNA SURE-P programme would employ 10, 000 youths and they will be getting Goodluck alerts from their banks every month”.

    Continuing, Nkanga said: “We want to work and get zero potholes on our roads as directed by Mr President, which we have been doing and Nigeria is consolidating on that so that we can be respected in the comity of nations”.

  • Re- “Taraba is broke”

    SIR: Journalists all over the world are regarded as agents of positive changes in the society. For a report to be considered as worthy of publication, it must not only be accurate, but it must be balanced as well. I came across a report filed by The Nation’s correspondent in Jalingo, Fanen Ihyongo with the above headline quoting the Chairman of Sardauna LGC Dr David Jedua as saying that “for the first time the state is so broke that even the treasury of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is empty”. He also quoted the immediate past Secretary to the Taraba State Government Emmanuel Njiwah as saying “Take SURE-P funds for instance; the money has all gone”.

    First and foremost, the quoted former SSG served under the Acting Governor for almost a year until when he was unceremoniously sacked as a result of his alleged involvement in the looting of flood disaster intervention fund released to the state by the federal government. Since bankruptcy is a gradual process, he had never raised any alarm then; why now?

    Secondly, he failed to prove his accusation by not presenting any concrete evidence of bankruptcy against the state government. The state government has been performing its obligations, for instance, salaries are being paid regularly as and at when due, all ongoing projects are being funded. One may wish to ask Dr. David Jedua if Bali-Gembu Road project which is under his immediate constituency has been put on hold due to lack of fund? The Acting Governor just paid over three billion debt incurred by Gov. Suntai among others. This is a pure blackmail from people who are bent on sabotaging the effort of the current administration.

    What baffled me most was that the reporter failed to hear from the state government’s side of the story, which is one of the basic ethics of journalism. Let’s try to be objective in our reportorial duties so that we can boost the credibility of our profession.

     

    • Muhammad s. Adamu Auta

    Jalingo, Taraba State

  • SURE-P scandal rocks Benue House

    The Benue State House of Assembly is boiling over the disbursement of N200 million released to the 23 local governments in the state for the execution of projects under the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P).

    Some members of the House were accused of collecting money from the LGs to cover up alleged mismanagement of the funds, prompting the Assembly to constitute a five man ad-hoc committee to get to the root of the allegation.

    The Committee which is headed by Christopher Afaor is charged with the responsibility of investigating the implementation of SURE-P projects in the state.

    It is expected to establish how much was approved for the local governments in the state by the federal government from 2012 till date and how much was actually released to them by the state.

    A source said the bubble burst when some legislators were excluded from benefitting from the largesse.

    A report earlier commissioned by the House on the implementation of the SURE-P in the state, according to sources, indicted some top government officials and four local government chairmen who were recommended for suspension.

    The report, it was gathered was not allowed to be presented for debate by the House and some members are now demanding that it must be tabled for discussion on the resumption of the legislature from recess.

    Attempts to speak to the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yakubu Emanche, failed as did not pick his calls or reply text messages sent to him.

  • Okonjo-Iweala denies alleged N500b missing SURE-P funds

    Okonjo-Iweala denies alleged N500b missing SURE-P funds

    The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday denied the allegation of N500billion Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds is missing.

    Mrs Okonjo-Iweala spoke at an interactive session with the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on SURE-P in Abuja.

    She said there was no substance in the allegation.

    The Minister challenged the Committee to invite all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that are stakeholders in the administration of SURE-P funds to a joint meeting, where the discrepancies would be sorted out.

    Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said: “As far as I am aware, there is no SURE-P money missing. The difference in the amount that comes to the Federal Government goes to the state and local government accounts.”

    The Minister, however, did not give details of the number of litres of fuel consumed monthly and how the amount due to the Federal Government has remained N15billion monthly despite fluctuating oil revenue.

    Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said that it is only the committee on SURE-P that can provide details about that since her Ministry was only directly responsible for the graduate internship programme.

    She said: “I was directly responsible for the graduate internship Programme. That is our direct role within the SURE-P. Amount accrued to the Federal Government is published each month. For me, the focus is on graduate internship programme, which is under the Ministry of Finance.

    “It was the desire of Nigerians that SURE-P be run separately. This is the reason a committee was set up to oversight the fund and administer it. As a Minister of Finance, my role is minimal.

    “It is sad that despite the efforts of Mr. President to ensure transparency and erase suspicion in the minds of Nigerians by creating SURE P committee, I am made to account for missing money.”

    She acknowledged that N816billion accrued to SURE-P from January 2012 to December 2013.

    Out of the amount, she explained that the Federal Government got N300billion while the balance N516 billion was shared by the states and local governments.

  • Is anti-graft war on course?

    Is anti-graft war on course?

    House of Representatives Speaker Hon. Aminu Tambuwal has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan is not committed to the anti-corruption battle. In this piece, VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI examine the circumstances that led to the public outburst and its implications for the executive/legislative relations.

    When House of Representatives Speaker Hon. Aminu Tambuwal dropped the bombshell, many Nigerians were taken aback. The number four citizen dissected the polity, saying that the anti-corruption battle was not on course. In his view, President Goodluck Jonathan has not shown enough commitment to the crusade against graft.

    The Speaker attempted to substantiate his allegation. After presenting a paper at a one-day roundtable marking the International Anti-corruption Day by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Tambuwal objected to the manner the President handled the pension fraud, the N255million bullet proof car scandal, and the alleged fraud in the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC). He said President Jonathan is encouraging corruption by his reluctance to promptly address the high profile corruption unearthed by the legislature.

    It was the first time the Speaker would speak against the administration in the public. While some people hailed him for his boldness, others said that his remarks were a brazen assault on the Presidency.

    However, barely a week after, former President Olusegun Obasanjo also wrote a letter to the President, accusing his administration of corruption.

    Few days after the Abuja outburst, Tambuwal dropped another bombshell during the inauguration of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Oil Theft at the National Assembly. He accused the Federal Government of complicity in oil theft, adding that N750 billion was being lost annually. Also, in his letter, Obasanjo alluded to the same crime, urging the President to halt the trend.

    Tambuwal has been a moderating factor in the House of Representatives, although he is largely portrayed as a friend of the opposition. Many believe that, as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, he has been instrumental to the maintenance of a reasonable equilibrium in favour of the President in the House. Therefore, some said that he has a moral burden to refrain from washing the dirty linen of the government in the public.

    However, many legislators supported the Speaker’s approach. They said that Tambuwal’s outburst was borne out of the passive attitude of the executive to the legislative resolutions on corruption.

    Many legislators have expressed concern over the way the Presidency handled the allegations against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) headed by Ms. Arumah Oteh. The matter led to frosty relationship between the two arms of government. The investigation by the Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Herman Hembe, went awry when he was accused of fraud by the Director-General. Eventually, the resolution by the House that the Oteh should be removed and the suggestion that the SEC should be excluded from the budget were ignored by the President.

    Also, the punitive recommendation by the House against the Minister of Aviation over the allegation of N255 million bullet proof car fraud was ignored by the President, who set up an administrative committee to look into the matter.

    Tambuwal frowned at the way the fuel subsidy probe was also handled by the President. He said many of the recommendations were not implemented, based on the fact that the probe was discredited by the bribe- for- clearance allegation against the Ad hoc Chairman, Hon. Farouk Lawan. The House was of the opinion that, in spite of the allegation, the recommendation, if implemented to the letter, would have cleansed the petroleum sector

    Tambuwal’s warning did not start overnight. On Jan 6, he had warned the Executive against corruption while speaking on the amendment of the constitution. The Speaker had sent a clear signal to the Executive and the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), saying that the House would not condone a situation where few people feed fat on the wealth of the nation and majority of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty. He said the House will monitor step the MDAs and ensure that the national wealth is judiciously used by them.

    The Speaker said: “We are convinced now more than ever before, that a situation where the majority of the citizens continue to live in abject poverty while an insignificant minority corner the commonwealth is not only unjust, but unacceptable.

    “In this regard, we shall continue to adopt a pragmatic and functional approach to ensure that the war against corruption is removed from the realm of rhetoric by exercising absolute diligence in our oversight function to enhance transparency and accountability in both high and low strata.

    In November last year, the House raised an alarm over the non-remittance of N4 trillion by 60 MDAs indicted by the House panel report. The Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) was summoned to explain $7bn missing crude oil funds. Also, Alhaji Rilwan Lukman and Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke were asked to appear before the investigative committee. The position of the Executive has always been that funds were not missing.

    Sequel to reports by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) over the non-remittance of over N4 trillion by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the 2009 fiscal year, the House summoned the Minister of Petroleum Resources and past chairmen and members of the Board of the NNPC. They are among 60 MDAs investigated by the Public Accounts Committee headed by Solomon Adeola.

    Adeola said that a comprehensive probe into the operation of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is underway. He alleged that the company has not remitted any revenue into the government coffers for seven years.

    “On the issue of the LNG, you will agree with me that the only thing that constitutes revenue today, apart from taxes, is oil. The LNG has been on for over six to seven years and they’re not privatised and we’ve not even heard from them”, he said.

    The House also supported the Senate’s call for the sack of the Chairman of the Pension Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, over pension fraud and corruption. It ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to appear before its committee on Police Affairs to explain why he did not act on the warrant issued by the Senate. But it was later alleged that the Presidency was shielding Maina.

    In March, the legislators, through a motion moved by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Hon. Bimbo Daramola, agreed that the immunity granted the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, “was not well thought out.”

    On July 28, the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values resolved to investigate the Ministry of Aviation over the award of contracts running into billions of naira. The committee alleged that the contract money was paid for jobs not executed. Its Chairman, Abiodun Faleke, said the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and the Ministry of Works would be investigated for breaching the Public Procurement Act.

    He said: “The impunity with which we do things in this country is appalling, like the abuse of ‘No Objection Certificate’ given by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). All agencies are using this loophole to issue contracts of over N20b without advertising them, once they write to the BPP that allows for selective tendering.

    “Talking of impunity, during an oversight of MDG projects, we discovered that a canal was conducted in Okrika for over N2billlion. The consultancy fee for the project that was not even in the 2012 budget and not appropriated for was N900m”.

    The House has also criticised the Federal Government for the poor implementation of the budget. In its view, the President only selects and implements some items in the budget.

    The 2014 budget presentation to the National Assembly was aborted by President Jonathan at the last minute, due to the insistence of the House on $79 per barrel.

    However, the public has always had the impression that the face off between the House and the Presidency is related to the manner in which the Speaker emerged in 2011 against the will and zoning formula of the PDP. But, Tambuwal is of the opinion that the House was living up to its vision, which is “ pursue an aggressive legislative agenda to reposition itself as a key branch of government, able and determined to deliver on the key elements of governance”.

    A legislator, who craved for anonymity, said that “that is why the House frowns when the Executive says that its resolutions are mere advice”. But another legislator said: “Tambuwal is only playing to the gallery by attacking the President in order to gain favour from the opposition in the House”.