Buhari Warns Civil Servants Against Corruption, Incompetence

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned Permanent Secretaries and the entire civil service against corruption, indiscipline, Incompetence and excesses.

Buhari gave the warning as he swore 16 of the 18 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries into office. The remaining two were said to have traveled overseas on official assignment.

His words ;
“I must, however, sound a note of warning.  It is within public domain that Ministers as Chief Executives of their Ministries as well as other Government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the Civil Service.

“Even where Permanent Secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction.

“This Administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence, and corrupt practices in any form. Permanent Secretaries are therefore advised to note these words of caution and disseminate them to all Civil Servants accordingly.

“I am sure the Permanent Secretaries and all other Civil Servants appreciate the fact that I have always considered the Civil Service as an indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty.  I, therefore, consider the Service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this country for the better.”

The president urged the new permanent secretaries to see their appointments as an emergency call to duty.

“This Government was voted into power by popular mandate to implement clearly articulated programmes and policies to re-generate and re-invigorate the national economy. The main focus is to create employment for the youth, fight corruption, tackle insecurity, and diversify our economic base with emphasis on agricultural development, solid minerals exploitation as well as provision of infrastructural services.

”This at a time when the nation’s economy and revenue base are very low will task the capability and capacity of any Government.  This is why you have been chosen and you should all regard your appointments as an emergency call to duty," he said.

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Prison Officers Batter Journalist For Taking Photos Of Murder Suspects

A Vanguard reporter, Mr Emmanuel Elebeke on Thursday got the beating of his life at the premises of Court 2 of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja when officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service from Kuje prison descended on him for taking a photograph of six suspects standing trial for the murder of a certain Anthony Eze.

Trouble started at about 2pm when Mr Elebeke took a snapshot of the murder suspects as they were being handcuffed by the prison officers.

The angry prison officers aided by the accused persons' relations were said to have descended on the journalist when he refused to hand over his camera to them.

Following severe beatings with boots and gun butts, the prison officers succeeded in seizing the camera from Elebeke before zooming off in their bus marked
PS 635 A01.

Reacting to the incident, the Abuja chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ vowed to see that the offending prison officers were brought to justice.

“It is totally unacceptable to us as a union and the profession of journalism. Such an act cannot be tolerated in a society where we all call for social justice.

“We as a union will investigate the case in full and make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We will do everything within our power to ensure that this does not repeat itself,” said Abuja NUJ Chairman, Mr Paul Ella.

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20 insurgents, 5 villagers killed in Boko Haram attack in Niger

No less than 25 people were killed on Wednesday when Boko Haram terrorists attacked a village in the southern part of Niger Republic.

Military authorities told Reuters that subsequent clashes between the terror group and the army left 20 insurgents dead.

The militants had killed five villagers in their earlier attack on the village located in that country's Bosso district before they were driven back by the Army.

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False declaration of assets : Supreme Court halts Saraki's trial.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Code of Conduct Tribunal to stay proceedings in its trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki on charges of false declaration of assets.

The apex court gave the order following a concession by prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that the CCT's proceedings could be halted if Saraki's counsel's appeal would be given accelerated hearing.

The five judges of the apex court unanimously ordered the Code of Conduct Tribunal to "tarry awhile."

The Supreme Court thereafter gave the prosecution counsel seven days to respond to Saraki's counsel's appelant's brief which was served on him on Thursday.

The court said that the date for the hearing of Saraki's main appeal would be communicated to the parties in due course. 

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Police Chief Blames Corruption In The Force On Fear Of The Future

Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase on Wednesday in Sokoto declared zero tolerance for corruption in the police force.

Arase who was on a familiarization tour of the Sokoto State Police Command said that dealing with corruption in the police force required the carrot and stick approach.

“In dealing with corruption, it has to be a carrot and stick approach. I don’t want to start accusing my men that they are corrupt. But corruption is borne out of the fear of the future.

“For instance, somebody who has put in 35 years of service and he is going to leave and is not sure of where he is going to be accommodated, he is not sure whether he will be able to train his children. He is not sure that his terminal benefits will be able to sustain him, then, his temptation to be corrupt will be very, very high.

“Therefore, I owe them a moral duty and obligation to make sure that I put things in place to be able to mitigate against those moral tendencies to be corrupt," he said.

The police chief who admitted that the rank and file did the bulk of the work in the force disclosed that plans are on to build 25,000 houses for police officers across the country through mortgage arrangement.

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20 insurgents, 5 villagers killed in Boko Haram attack in Niger

No less than 25 people were killed on Wednesday when Boko Haram terrorists attacked a village in the southern part of Niger Republic.

Military authorities told Reuters that subsequent clashes between the terror group and the army left 20 insurgents dead.

The militants had killed five villagers in their earlier attack on the village located in that country's Bosso district before they were driven back by the Army.

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Why some retired Permanent Secretaries may face probe

There are indications that some of the Permanent Secretaries recently retired by President Muhammadu Buhari will be probed for corruption.

Already, one of those who may face trial has been interrogated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

Another one is alleged to have lavished public funds on exotic cars, unnecessary foreign trips and luxury hotel bills.

Intelligence operatives discovered that some of the Permanent Secretaries lived far above their legitimate income while looting public funds with impunity. 

Intelligence checks also revealed that Permanent Secretaries and top directors in the Civil Service are involved in massive acquisition of real estate.

THE NATION reports some of the allegations for which the Permanent Secretaries will be probed to include  acquisition of choice properties; $4.5b tax holidays;   N1.9billion Ebola Fund(including N900million for isolation tents); $2billion arms deal; N29billion fictitious contracts; N275.5million budget for 2015 poll monitoring; the mismanagement of subsidy funds; questionable waivers and N2.4 billion fertiliser scam.

THE NATION also quotes a source as saying that ;
“About five of the retired permanent secretaries might face trial based on discreet investigation by some security agencies on how they mismanaged their ministries.

“Some of these permanent secretaries appeared before one or two anti-graft agencies for questioning. They are already aware of their pending trial.

“Some of these senior civil servants have been pleading for soft landing but the government may not listen to them.”

Source : THE NATION

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