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Phantom Auditor General’s Report and ‘N123billion Fraud’: In Defence of My Name

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Stephen Oronsaye

Stephen Oronsaye

By Stephen OROSANYE

ABUJA-My attention has been drawn to yet another attempt at character assassination against my person by means of false allegations in a report first published online in the Premium Times on September 15, 2014 and subsequently in some other Nigerian newspapers.

As on a previous occasion when I refused to join issues with the authors and publishers of similar false allegations and reports, I would ordinarily have chosen not to dignify the targeted hateful innuendoes in the misleading report entitled: “Auditor General’s Report Indicts Ex-Head of Service, Oronsaye, For N123 billion fraud” with any response, especially since the so-called audit report has been dismissed as a work of fiction. However, since my silence is capable of being misconstrued by the reading public, it has become necessary for me to set the records straight.

While it is not in my character to enumerate the successes I recorded in the different positions I have been privileged to hold, the records clearly attest to the fact that I did my best possible to reform the pension administration of the Service while I was Head of the Civil Service of the Federation between June 2009 and November 2010.

Therefore, it is quite curious that although “the audit report” was said to cover the period 2005 to 2010, the sponsors of the report only found it convenient to focus on the period in which I was in office and even in doing so, deliberately overlooked the period during which I and my team made efforts to address the problems associated with pension administration at the time.

The online report alleged that the “audit report” which the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has since disclaimed, found that the pension payroll was never subject to internal audit between June 2009 and December 2010; and that over N52 billion paid out as monthly pension was not presented for internal and federal audits for prepayment audit as required by Nigerian financial regulation (sic).

In actual fact, I worked closely with the Internal Auditor in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation at the time. It was this Internal Auditor’s report that actually prompted the setting up of the Pension Reform Task Team at the time. This can be verified from the official records. As a Chartered Accountant and having served as Permanent Secretary prior to my appointment as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, I am fully conversant with the imperatives of accountability and the implications of not applying the rules.

For the records, the major gap identified in the administration of civil service pensions when I came on board in 2009 was the lack of proper records. My team and I made far reaching efforts to address this shortcoming through the physical verification and biometric capture of civilian pensioners across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who retired from the Service before July 1, 2007.

Through that exercise, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation identified and eliminated no fewer than 70,000 (seventy thousand) fake/ghost pensioners from the pension payroll. To my credit and that of my team, and the relief of pensioners, 34,432 (thirty four thousand, four hundred and thirty two) pensioners who had hitherto never been paid their pension at the time, were enrolled and paid their pension as well as the arrears of their harmonized pension. In addition, under my watch, the Federal Government made a monthly saving of about N1 Billion.

Perhaps if the sponsors of the report were not so lazy, they would have dug out the letters I did to the then National Security Adviser (NSA) on December 10, 2009 (Ref: HCSF/061/S.1/III/250) and November 8, 2010 (Ref: HCSF/061/S.1/VI/53) drawing the attention of the NSA on both occasions and requesting for investigations into unclaimed pension benefits that were hitherto fraudulently paid into certain bank accounts.

In like manner, I wrote to the then EFCC Chairman in November 2010 vide letter reference HCSF/061/S.1/VI/54, forwarding four spiral-bound documents containing the names of different categories of supposed pensioners and the banks to which the funds were hitherto paid. The document was put together by the then Director, Pension Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

In that letter, I drew the attention of the EFCC Chairman to the fact that “prior to the introduction of the integrated e-payment, pension benefits were paid to banks and all the payments were supposedly claimed by the bona fide beneficiaries. However, with the introduction of the integrated e-payment system, no one had come forward to claim the pensions that were hitherto paid to the banks for onward payment to the pensioners.” I therefore requested the EFCC to cause an investigation to be made into the matter with a view to resolving all the issues and prosecuting all those found culpable.

In another related matter, I had cause to write to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in August 2010 (Ref: HCSF/061/S.1/V/81), forwarding a 561-page record containing names and account numbers of 11,732 persons alleged to be fake pensioners but who were paid pension in their names for the month of May 2010, through banks stated. Again, I requested for an examination of the banks to ascertain how the funds were applied.

Contrary to claims that over N52 billion paid as monthly pension during my tenure remained largely unaccounted for, I actually ensured transparency in the administration of pension through the biometric measure mentioned above among others. The full report of the Pension Task Team, which was released after I had left office in 2010 would clarify this position.

It is also uncharitable for anyone to concoct a report suggesting that as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, I oversaw an era of corruption in pension administration to the low level of receiving kick-backs totaling N1.03 billion from the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP). It is on record that I repeatedly faulted the NUP for deducting check-off dues from its members, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in fact wrote to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to reverse the unconstitutional trend at the time.

It is news to me that N700 million was paid to 223 contractors for store items. Throughout the 16 months during which I served as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, I largely avoided involvement in procurement issues. The Tenders’ Board handled all issues of procurement and it was chaired by the Permanent Secretary. The only instance I got involved in a procurement was as a result of a direct intervention for the purpose of ensuring a smooth pension process and that particular procurement was less than N80 million.

In its effort to taint my image, the online report further alleged that the sum of N15 billion released by the Federal Government for the settlement of the death benefits of deceased civil servants in July 2010 could not be accounted for, adding that the money was moved to an illegal account in Union Bank and personally operated by our client. The report went on to claim that 58 Bank accounts were opened at my instance between 2009 and 2010 without the knowledge and approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation. To crown it all, it further alleged that “over N54 Billion was transferred to these illegal accounts and eventually withdrawn for undisclosed purposes”.

Again, for the records, the said N15 billion released by the Federal Government was NEVER touched during my tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation because as at the time of my retirement in November 2010, the pension harmonization process had not been concluded.

In fact, the then CBN Deputy Governor (Operations), in response to the enquiry cited in paragraph 13 above, furnished the Office of the Head of the Civil Service with lists of pension accounts maintained with 15 Banks vide letters Ref: GOV/DGO/CON/CBN/01 dated August 25, 26 and 30, 2010 and September 1, 2010. The returns made by the Deposit Money Banks to the CBN at the time indicate that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation did not operate up to 58 accounts all of which were opened prior to my assumption of office as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

For the records, contrary to the claims contained in the sinister report, the OHCSF during my tenure only operated 17 accounts out of the existing accounts in 12 different banks. These accounts were later consolidated into not more than seven. The assertion in the online report is therefore not tenable.

Furthermore, the OHCSF during my tenure established the electronic Pension Management Platform (epms) to check and facilitate transparent pension management. In addition, the office at the time carried out a nation-wide biometric enrolment of pensioners, which involved officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies. It was this exercise that uncovered the thousands of fake pensioners on the payroll at the time.

Indeed it was during that period that cases of fraud in the administration of pension were uncovered and they were still being investigated as at the time I retired in November 2010. I therefore find it an epic distortion of facts to allege that my tenure was characterised by fraud when what I did was to address the challenge I met on ground.

It is rather telling that in obvious disregard of the facts, the online report was silent on what transpired during the Senate’s Public hearing on alleged fraud in the administration of civil service and police pensions in 2011, during which all those who gave evidence absolved me of any act of complicity.

While I bear no grudge against anyone seeking to probe my tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation or indeed any other position I have held, I find it preposterous for any individual or group of persons to be so hell-bent on maliciously and falsely discrediting my genuine contributions to the development of the country.

It is not far-fetched in the circumstances to observe that the grouse of the sponsors of these false reports against me arose from their resentment to my sincere efforts at reforms that will bring about lasting change to a system that was bedeviled by the flaws I exposed. The Principal actors in the administration of civil service pensions between 2005 and 2010, the period covered by the alleged “audit report” are still alive! It would therefore have made for more balanced reporting if the Premium Times and other newspapers had made efforts to investigate the truth instead of being led blindly to attempt to tarnish a hard-earned reputation.

For the records, I am a Chartered Accountant with decades of audit experience, a former Permanent Secretary, State House and the Federal Ministry of Finance as well as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and now the Chairman, Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Through my years of practice, I have been guided by my firm belief in due process and accountability.

By normal Federal auditing procedure, where an audit has been carried out, audit observations made are forwarded to the auditee/entity for a comment/response. Ideally, those in office are expected to comment on audit observations regarding an entity. However, if they are unable to comment/respond then the proper procedure is for the observations to be passed on to those that were in the office covered by the audit, provided the persons are alive. I can confirm that no one has reached out to me in that regard.

In the desperate bid to ridicule me, the author of the Premium Times report made a rather uninformed attempt at suggesting that my Chairmanship of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) attracts pecuniary benefits. The records are clear and they confirm that no member receives stipends or sitting allowance. The membership of the Presidential Committee on FATF, which comprises relevant Government agencies, has remained the same since 2004, except in cases where the officers have changed desks.

In the light of the foregoing, I would advise Premium Times and the media houses that published their jaundiced report to desist from reckless and malicious distortion of facts and the making of unfounded allegations designed to tarnish my reputation. I am not unmindful of the consequences of these acts and will take whatever steps may be required in defence of my name.

Oronsanye is the a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and now Chairman, Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-

 

 

 

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Business

Nigeria pays US$4.9 billion on petrol subsidy in 2024- NNPCL

It was however noted by Biztellers.com.ng, that although subsidy is back in effect, the main reason for that is the increasingly weak state of the Naira and the country’s extreme dependence on products importation. Also unlike the previous subsidy era, where several oil marketers were getting free subsidy refunds for unverified product importation, this subsidy era is witnessing only one importer, the NNPCL, which in effect is the sole receiver of government subsidies. 

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Yemie ADEOYE

INSPITE of the official position of the Nigerian government that the controversial petrol subsidy is gone for good as announced by the President on assumption of office, the state owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL has disclosed that petrol subsidy is still fully operational in Nigeria, although, under a different identity.

Umar Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer at the NNPCL, disclosed that it cost the company a staggering N7.8 trillion (US$4.9) to cover this price gap in the first seven months of 2024.

Rather than simply referring to these claims as subsidies, he stated that the company is merely managing the price difference in petrol imports on behalf of the federation, stressing that this should not be misconstrued as a return to subsidy payments.

This revelation has reignited discussions on whether the NNPC is indirectly offering subsidies, a concept typically defined as selling a product below its cost price.

Documents reviewed by Biztellers.com.ng showed that the term “subsidy” was used extensively in official correspondence between the NNPCL and the presidency, particularly in reference to the “shortfall.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu reportedly approved NNPC’s request to utilize the 2023 final dividends due to the federation to offset these costs.

However, during a media briefing on Monday about the company’s 2023 audited financial statements, Ajiya refuted claims that the NNPC is involved in any subsidy scheme.

Ajiya further disclosed that the Nigerian government owes the NNPC N7.8 trillion ($4.9 billion) in subsidy-related debts for the period from January to July 2024.

In furtherance of his clarification to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ajiya insisted that no subsidy payments have been made to any marketer in the last nine years, citing the NNPC’s role as the sole importer of petrol under supply contracts.

He said, “In the last eight to nine years, NNPC Ltd. has not paid anyone a dime as a subsidy; no kobo has been disbursed by NNPC Ltd. in the name of subsidy. No marketer has received any payment from us for subsidy.”

“What has been happening is that we have been importing PMS, which has been landing at a specific cost price, and the government tells us to sell it at half price. So the difference between the landing price and that half price is a shortfall.

“And the deal is between the Federation and NNPC Ltd., to reconcile, sometimes they give us money, so there is no money exchanging hands with any marketer in the name of subsidy.”

Ajiya remained silent on how much of the $4.9 billion could have been remitted to the federation account if the NNPC had not been covering the “shortfall.”

It was however noted by Biztellers.com.ng, that although subsidy is back in effect, the main reason for that is the increasingly weak state of the Naira and the country’s extreme dependence on products importation. Also unlike the previous subsidy era, where several oil marketers were getting free subsidy refunds for unverified product importation, this subsidy era is witnessing only one importer, the NNPCL, which in effect is the sole receiver of government subsidies.

 

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Banking

CBN Denies Currency Devaluation

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CBN Pegs Interest Rate at 14%

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has refuted claims of devaluing the.

 

Earlier reports suggested that the CBN had devalued the Naira, lowering its exchange rate from N631 to the dollar, compared to the previous day’s rate of N461.60 at the Importers and Exporters (I&E) window.

 

However, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released a statement on Thursday through its Acting Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Isa Abdulmumin, categorizing the report as false information.

 

In the statement titled ‘CBN Has Not Devalued The Naira’, he said the attention of the apex bank was drawn to the news report by an Abuja based newspaper edition of June 1, 2023, titled “CB Devalues Naira To 630/51”.

 

However, the CBN stated categorically that the news report was replete with outright FALSEHOODS and destabilizing innuendos, ‘reflecting potentially willful ignorance of the said medium as to the workings of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market.’

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the exchange rate at the Investors’ & Exporters (I&E) window traded this morning (June 1, 2023) at N465/USS1 and has been stable around this rate for a while.

 

“The public is hereby advised to ignore the news report by Daily Trust in its entirety, as it is speculative and calculated at causing panic in the market,” the CBN spokesman added.

 

He, therefore, advised media practitioners to verify their facts from the Central Bank of Nigeria before publishing in order not to misinform the public.

 

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Banking

BREAKING: CBN Increases Interest Rate By 0.5%

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CBN Pegs Interest Rate at 14%

 

The interest rate in Nigeria has been raised to 18.5 percent, up by 0.5 percent, from 18 percent where it was pegged in March 2023.

 

The Central Banks of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) resolved to this effect at its third meeting of 2023 in Abuja, on Wednesday.

 

Governor, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, made the disclosure in the communiqué of the MPC’s meeting,  thereafter.

 

While engaging the media at the end of the two-day meeting, Emefiele, said the committee voted to keep the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -700 basis points around the MPR.

 

In the view of the MPC, rising inflation rate is traceable to the high energy cost and challenges around the supply chain, among others, which lie outside the corridors of the CBN.

 

Emefiele said, “The current trend in price development would continue to be monitored by the bank with greater collaboration with fiscal authority to address the drivers of inflation.”

 

Biztellers reports that the CBN had effected six consecutive interest rate increases, which has seen the rate move from 11.5 percent in March 2022 to 18.5 percent in May 2023.

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