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Audit Query: Reps panel investigates NIPC Over N1.19bn Extra Budgetary Expenditure

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The Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, (NIPC), a Federal Government agency under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is under probe by the House of Representatives panel on Public accounts for engaging in extra budgetary expenditure of N1.19 billion in the 2018 and 2019 financial years.

A report from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, indicated that the NIPC had a budget of N194 million in 2018, and NN180.6 million in 2019, but spent N700 million and N871 million respectively.
Consequently, the Committee chaired by Hon Whole Oke, (PDP-Osun) ordered the management of the Agency to provide full explanations on why the agency would spend government money at their disposal without the approval of the National Assembly in form of appropriation.

In addition, the Committee is also investigating why the Commission would re-award a contract for the supply and installation of 50 units of complete computer sets and UPS at the cost of N28.9 million when an upward review of the same contract demanded by the original contractor was N27.6 million.

A brief from the Public Accounts Committee on the query revealed that “N180.6 million was budgeted for overhead cost in the year 2019, but NIPC ended in spending N871 million excluding depreciation without the approval of the National Assembly.

According to panel, “There was extra budgetary spending on overhead in the year 2018 without supplementary approval from the National Assembly. N194 million appropriated but NIPC spent over N700 million.”

The Committee therefore directed the Commission to provide the National Assembly’s approval for extra budgetary spending of N690 million.

The query alleged that the contract for the supply and installation of 50 units of complete computer sets and UPS to Digital Communication Konsult at the cost of N22.5 million in 2020, but repudiated the contract on account that the contractor requested for upward review to N27.6 million citing unstable exchange rate as an excuse, but the contract was later re-awarded to Dotmac Technologies Limited at the cost of N28.9 million.
The committee also wanted the Executive Secretary of the NIPC to explain why the Commission was not implementing the provisions of the Pensions Reform Act which stipulate 18 percent contribution, while the agency is implementing 15 percent.

A close study of the 223 paged document presented to the Committee by the Commission showed a line item suggesting that the Commission may have spent its internally generated revenue for 2019 to service its recurrent and capital budget.

For example, the statement indicated that comparison between budget and actual transaction as at 31st December, 2019 shows under Internally Generated Revenue, a recurrent item which states that there was a personnel cost budget of N500 million and actual of N349,750,700.50, overhead budget of N966 million and actual of N749,811,184.32 as well as capital budget of N149 million and actual of N91,123,865.07.

It was also discovered that the NIPC with a staff strength of about 210 with 63 of them being management staff, 137 as senior staff with only 10 junior staff spent about N38.5 million on overseas and local training and a whooping N81.7 million on travels alone in 2019.

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The Committee had earlier rejected the submission made to it on the query saying that the supporting documents were neither signed nor authenticated by any authority which made the submission invalid in the eyes of the law..

Consequently, the Committee stepped down all its queries and directed its new Executive Secretary, Mrs Saratu Umàr to go back with the Submission to enable her to familiarise herself with it and come back to defend it by next week Wednesday

The Director of Finance of the Commission, Mr Akwada James had stunned the Committee members while defending the submission as he said that he was at loss while preparing the submission and that he did not know how to explain the item by item in the queries as demanded by the Committee.

The Committee members one after the other pointed out several flaws in the submission which they said looked like forged document that would not stand the test of time before the law.

In his remarks on the development, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Oke said,” Madam New Executive Secretary, in line with the principle of fair hearing they operate, the Committee should allow them to pick a date, so that they can go and familiarise themselves with the submission and the relevant documents and come back to defend the query since they just assumed office and those on ground before them are not helping the matter”

Mrs Umar while appreciating the gesture extended to her promised to appear before the Committee for proper defence in the second week of September this year.

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Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda

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Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.

Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.

He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.

SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time

“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.

The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.

He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.

According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.

He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.

As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.

He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.

Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.

Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

 

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Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.

The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.

ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road

“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.

The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.

“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.

LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.

“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.

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‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria

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Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.

Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.

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“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.

“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.

Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.

“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.

He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.

“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.

His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.

Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.

Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.

NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.

The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.

 

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