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No one too big to tackle in corruption fight – Buhari
- As Salami panel on Magu submits report
President Muhammadu Buhari has said no one should be too big to tackle in the fight against corruption.
The President, who admitted that corruption existed in all levels of government including high places, said this was why he ordered the suspension of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu and set up a panel to probe graft allegations against him.
Buhari spoke in Abuja while receiving the report of the Justice Ayo Salami-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Investigation of Magu, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
The statement was titled “President Buhari: I want Nigeria to be counted among countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption.”
He said, “Let it be known that in the fight against corruption, no one is too big to tackle, as no individual is bigger than the Nigerian state!”
“Corruption is present in all countries. Some governments treat it with levity. Some fight it all the time. I want Nigeria to be counted among those countries that do not tolerate but fight corruption,” he added.
Even as he noted that corruption walked on all four (legs) in all levels of government and different segments of the society, he explained that the fight against graft would be seen as a mere charade if government failed to act when accusations of corruptions were leveled against agencies set up to help the crusade.
Buhari said, “The sad reality confronting us as a people is that there is corruption almost everywhere; at many levels of government, and nearly every stratum of our society. Mindful of the threat that corruption poses to us as a nation, this administration has specifically focused on the fight against corruption.
“As a government, and in furtherance of our anti-corruption programme, we have since inception engaged in many reforms in removing corruption including but not limited to the enforcement of Treasury Single Account, strict implementation of the Bank Verification Number Policy and signing unto the open government partnership. A lot of efforts have gone into building and development of our anti-corruption institutions.”
He also said, “We have so far kept faith with our promise and shall remain committed until Nigeria triumphs over the evil of corruption, attain a prosperous economic status, and surmounts her security challenges.
“However, the stark reality of widespread corruption becomes poignant when allegations of corruption touch on the leadership of an institution set up by law to coordinate and enforce all economic and financial crimes. It is an abomination that strikes at the root and undermines the Government’s anti-corruption programme.
“It was in response to the serious allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that I set up a Panel headed by the Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, retired President of the Court of Appeal, via an Instrument dated 3rd July 2020 pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry Act (Cap T21, LFN, 2004).”
The President said, “We recognise that there are more grounds to cover in the war against corruption, and we are prepared to go out to possess those lands by cutting off any stream that nourishes the seed of corruption and supports its growth.”
Buhari said his desire was to make Nigeria a country with no tolerance for corruption.
He called on all stakeholders and every Nigerian to own the fight against corruption at their respective levels.
The President Buhari thanked members of the Commission for their dedication and commitment to the fight against corruption.
Responding, Justice Salami reportedly said Magu and 113 witnesses appeared and testified before the commission.
He added that 46 petitions and memoranda were presented by individuals and organisations with complaints against the suspended acting Chairman, EFCC, or both.
Salami said the commission also embarked on a nationwide physical verification of recovered forfeited assets, comprising real estates, automobiles, vessels, and non-cash assets.
He commended the President for the initiative, The statement reported the retired Justice of the Court of Appeal as recommending “that in appointing a new chairman, consideration should be given to candidates from other law enforcement or security agencies and a core staff of the EFCC as provided in the EFCC establishment Act of 2004.”
News
FG approves salary increase for civil servants
FG approves salary increase for civil servants
The Federal Government has approved a salary increase of between 25 and 35 per cent for civil servants.
This move is coming on the eve of the 2024 Workers’ Day.
This was revealed in a statement on Tuesday by the Head of Press at the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC)Emmanuel Njoku.
The increment, it stated, would take effect from January 1, 2024.
The Salary Structure includes the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
Those in the tertiary education and health sectors had already received their increases which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for universities.
For polytechnics and colleges of education, the statement indicated that the new salary structure involved the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).
Those in the Health Sector will also be benefiting through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Also, the Federal Government has approved increase in pension of between 20 and 28 per cent for pensioners on the defined benefits scheme concerning the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures.
News
FG declares Wednesday May 1 public holiday
FG declares Wednesday May 1 public holiday
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday May 1, 2024 as a public holiday to mark this year’s Workers’ Day.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration in a statement released on Tuesday by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Aishetu Ndayako.
“The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st May 2024 as a public holiday to commemorate this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration,” Aishetu said in the statement.
She quoted the minister as “In alignment with this year’s theme, which focuses on ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, I wish to state that the Federal Government remains steadfast in its resolve to prioritise the safety and well-being of all citizens.
“Let me reaffirm Mr. President’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for work, where every worker can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
The minister acknowledged the contribution of workers and called for more measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change through synergy.
“The minister also urged Nigerians to remain committed to the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda as he wishes workers a happy celebration,” the statement added.
News
FG set to repatriate 20,000 Nigerians from Chad, Cameroon
FG set to repatriate 20,000 Nigerians from Chad, Cameroon
The federal government has announced plans to repatriate 20,000 Nigerians from Chad and Cameroon over the next two months. The plan involves bringing back 6,000 individuals from Chad and 14,000 from Cameroon.
As of December 31, 2023, there were 21,338 Nigerian refugees in Chad and 120,677 in Cameroon. In the previous year, the federal government successfully repatriated 5,000 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon to Banki in Borno State. In preparation for the return of the refugees, the federal government procured food and non-food items worth N2 billion in 2023.
The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Ahmed, disclosed this information at a Technical Working Group meeting in Abuja. The refugees were displaced due to various factors, including the 2022 flood, the Boko Haram crisis, clashes between farmers and herders, and the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.
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Ahmed said: “In the year 2023, the commission spearheaded the repatriation of 5,000 people living in Cameroon to the country.
“We are also arranging to bring back those who are interested in returning because repatriation is voluntary and an agreement has been signed between UNHCR, the government of Cameroon and the federal government of Nigeria in the area of repatriation of our people from Cameroon.
“We are going to work towards the repatriation of 6,000 Nigerians out of about 21,000 of them in Chad.
“We are looking at returning 3000 households from Chad, which is about 6,000 people would be repatriated from Chad to Nigeria. For Cameroon, we have about 14,000 people but we will profile them because we don’t have to force anybody to return. Arrangements are underway to get them back. Within the next two months, we should have concluded the arrangement on repatriation.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Deputy Representative (Protection), Bernadette Muteshi commended the federal government for taking the lead in the repatriation exercise.
FG set to repatriate 20,000 Nigerians from Chad, Cameroon
FG approves salary increase for civil servants
FG declares Wednesday May 1 public holiday
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