News
Gbajabiamila warns MDAs against diversion of retention funds
House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday warned that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have formed the habit of not remitting retention funds to the treasury will be punished.
Gbajabiamila, who spoke at a public hearing on the need to investigate the failure of MDAs to remit retention funds, said such action is denying the government the much-needed resources to fund annual budget, especially at a time when the global price of fossil fuel is going down.
Retention funds often five per cent of contract sum are regularly held back from contractors by MDAs and kept for either six months or one year while the project is being observed to ensure that it meets specification.
It is either paid to the contractor after six months or paid back to government treasury.
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission had accused about 122 MDAs of failure to remit N 1.2 trillion in 2020.
Gbajabiamila spoke just as the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee investigating the non-remittance, Aniekan Umanah, frowned at failure of MDAs to honour invitation from the parliament.
He said such action was not good for democratic practice and good governance.
The Speaker, who was represented by Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Abdullahi Sa’ad, said: “On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, the House of Representatives resolved to investigate the reasons why MDAs have routinely failed to payout or return to the coffers of the Federal Government, the retention funds withheld by them as part of the procurement processes in the different institutions.
“Retention funds are not intended to be converted by the MDAs. Where those funds are not paid out as required by the law, they ought to be properly accounted for, and refunded to the coffers of the Federal Government to address the substantial revenue shortfalls resulting from the ongoing collapse in the international value of fossil fuels, as well as significant contraction in the global and local economy owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and other adverse factors.
“Where this has not been done, it is a violation of the law, and those involved in this practice will because of this investigation account for the use of these funds.
“This public hearing and the mandate of the Ad-Hoc committee is in fulfillment of our commitment in the 9th House to ensure due process practices in the management of public finances. As such, I want to personally as all stakeholders, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, who may be invited to participate in this public hearing and any other activities of the committee to engage with good faith, and in the knowledge that we are all engaged in the difficult yet necessary work of building a nation where all government actions are underpinned by clue process and the rule of law.”
Committee Chairman Aniekan Umanah said the practice was inimical to the growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) as it denied them the much-needed capital to stay afloat while part of the funds formed part of N 1.2 trillion the Fiscal Responsibility Commission accused about 122 MDAs of failure to remit in 2020.
He said: “In view of the importance of the subject matter, constituted an Ad-hoc Committee to carry out investigation on this matter and report back to the House their findings and recommendations.
“However, it is pertinent to note that that the idea of this investigative hearing is a direct response to the yearning of the public outcry with the need to resolve some pending issues in a contractual relationship with various MDAs.”
News
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday laid to rest in Abuja, amid tears and tributes.
President Bola Tinubu conferred a posthumous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff.
The burial took place at the National Cemetery in Abuja to end two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered into the grave at exactly 4:41pm after the ceremony that lasted over two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Dignitaries were led to the event by President Bola Tinubu. Others are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and other top government officials and military brass.
President Tinubu announced the conferment of the CFR on the late COAS during the interment at the National Cemetery in Abuja.
The President extolled the virtues of the late warrior, especially his contributions to national security.
According to him, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.
“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.
He thereafter invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya, to collect the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.
News
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.
The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.
It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by majority of the state houses of assembly.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Abba-Aji ruled that “the EFCC Act, which was not established from a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly.”
News
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
His suspicion was on the order of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday evening.
No reason was given for the suspension.
Ahmad was directed to hand over to the Director, Engineering Services in the FCDA.
The statement read: “The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
“According to a statement on Thursday, by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, the suspension of Engr Hadi Ahmad is with immediate effect.
“The suspended Executive Secretary has consequently been directed to hand over to the Director of Engineering Services, Engr in the FCDA.”
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