The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into allegations that the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Binyerem Ukaire, withheld files containing payments due to agencies under the ministry.
The development occurred barely two days after Premium Times reported that funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for the operations of several federal agencies had not been processed.
The affected agencies are Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, News Agency of Nigeria, National Orientation Agency and the National Broadcasting Commission.
The funds had presidential approval but were reportedly held up at the ministry, sources familiar with the matter say.
Ukaire, sources said, is reportedly refusing to process the payment files after the heads of the affected agencies refused to meet the demand to give detailed presentations on their ongoing projects and how they were utilising the funds.
However, some agency officials and industry stakeholders reportedly raised concerns about the demand, arguing that it contradicted standard civil service procedures for the interaction between supervising ministries and their parastatals.
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They referred to a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which, they claimed, prohibited supervising ministries from directly interfering in the finances of agencies that are answerable to their governing boards and supervising ministers.
The row has since raised concerns about the protracted delay in the release of the approved funds.
ICPC Questions Perm Sec, Heads of Agencies
The ICPC subsequently invited Ukaire and heads of the affected agencies for questioning, as part of an investigation into the circumstances of the delayed payments, media reports said.
Investigators asked why the files had not been processed despite reported presidential approval, sources said.
Neither Ukaire nor the agency heads were detained following the questioning, those familiar with the development said.
Reports say the anti-graft commission is still investigating. Meanwhile, the controversy apparently has entered a new phase with increased public attention.
The affected payment files have been approved and submitted for onward processing and disbursement by Ukaire.
Heads of some of the affected agencies contacted on Saturday confirmed that they have transmitted the files and are now waiting for the final release of the approved funds into their respective accounts.
