The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in the 23 local government areas of the state to submit the activities of their respective councils.

Ibas said the HLGA appointed by the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, are to submit the report to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the HLGAs, dated March 24th, 2025 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Itong Awani.

The letter titled ‘Re: Submission of Report of The Activities of Your Councils’ was obtained by newsmen on Wednesday.

Some of the requirements to be submitted include functions of councils, the number of staff on a nominal roll, and sources of revenue of the LGAs, among others.

According to the letter, the heads of local government administration are to submit the report on or before Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

The letter reads, “His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State has directed that all Heads of Local Government Administration should submit the Report of their Councils to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs.

“I am also to inform you that all submissions using the format listed below should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Wednesday, 26h March 2025 for onward transmission to the office of the Sole Administrator, Government House, Port Harcourt, for further necessary action.

“Submission template: Introduction/Preamble, Functions of the Council. Number of Staff on Nominal Roll, stating cadre by cadre, Sources of Revenue Generation in the LGA.

“Activities of the Council/On-going and Completed Projects for the past 2 years, Achievements of the Council, Challenges, recommendations, Conclusion. Kindly treat as urgent and keep to the timeline of submission.”

Recall that Fubara had directed the former elected Government Chairmen in the 23 LGAs to hand over to the HLGA following the Supreme Court judgment which nullified the LG elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in 2024.

Meanwhile, RSIEC had, before the appointment of Ibas as Sole Administrator, fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct fresh local government elections after it met with political parties and other stakeholders in the state.

The Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will challenge in court the six-month suspension slammed on her following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements in the red chamber.

The legal counsel to the Kogi lawmaker, Victor Giwa, dismissed the Senate resolution as a violation of a court order.

Giwa spoke with The TheNigerian on Thursday after the Kogi lawmaker was suspended by the senate and walked out from the National Assembly complex.

The Nigerian Bar Association and opposition parties similarly berated the red chamber for not giving Akpoti-Uduaghan ample time to present her sexual harassment complaint against Akpabio.

Giwa said the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges acted in violation of a court order that allegedly restrained it from taking further action on the matter pending the determination of a motion on notice.

“The suspension is void, it cannot even take any effect. The suspension is illegal because there is a court order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further action.

‘’The committee disobeyed a valid court order that was served on them, making a mockery of the chamber that is supposed to uphold the law,” Giwa said.

He argued that if Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had not sought legal intervention, the suspension might have stood.

The lawyer also expressed conviction that with a court order explicitly directing the Senate to halt disciplinary actions, the decision to suspend her was null and void.

Giwa further revealed that legal action would be taken against those responsible for violating the court’s directive.

“We are going back to court. The case is coming up in about two weeks, and we will inform the court that despite being served, including the Senate President, they still acted in violation of the order by suspending the plaintiff,” he stated.

When asked if there were plans to escalate the matter to international organizations, Giwa said, “For now, we are handling it locally. But, of course, the world is watching. The Senate must adhere to international best practices, which dictate that once a case is in court, no further action should be taken on it.”

He highlighted that the Nigerian Constitution supersedes the Senate Standing Orders, stating that every citizen had the right to seek redress in court when their civil rights are breached.

“Section 6, subsection 6 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to seek redress when their civil rights are violated. Senator Natasha has done exactly that. Her suspension is an attempt to silence her for alleging wrongdoing against the Senate President, which amounts to a breach of her right to a fair hearing,” he added.

The Senate imposed a six-month suspension on the lawmaker without pay over what it called the breach of its Standing Orders following her claim of sexual harassment, an allegation that Akpabio denied.

In an earlier interview with Arise Television on February 28, the Kogi senator, who made headlines the previous week after a public dispute with the Senate President over seating arrangements in the Senate, accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her.

Her sexual harassment complaint was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review, which later recommended her suspension.

The resolution of the Senate followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the committee during plenary on Thursday.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South) presented the report on the floor of the red chamber.

The report, signed by all 14 members of the committee, offered seven recommendations against the Kogi Central senator.

The committee found her guilty of all allegations against her as she did not attend the investigative hearing to defend herself.

In its recommendations, it proposed that Akpoti-Uduaghan may have the six-month suspension reduced only if she tenders a formal apology to the Senate President for her outburst during last week’s plenary session.

As part of the suspension, the legislator’s salary and security details will be withdraw and her  office locked but her legislative aides would receive their remuneration throughout the period.

Meanwhile, the Senate rejected the Imasuen-led committee’s recommendation of an apology, saying such would only be entertained at the end of the six-month suspension.

The seven-point recommendations by Imasuen read, “One, that the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of Senate standing rules, bringing the presiding officer and the entire Senate to public opprobrium.

“Two, that for the Senate to consider lifting or reducing the duration of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before reconsideration.

‘’Three, that the Senate suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan with effect from March 6, 2025, from all legislative activities.

“Four, that her office be locked up for the duration of her suspension and that she hands over all Senate properties in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

“Five, that for the duration of her suspension, she must not be seen within the vicinity of the Senate or the National Assembly, including her staff.

“Six, that her salaries and allowances, including those of her legislative aides, be suspended, and that all security details assigned to her be withdrawn for the period of her suspension.

“Seven, that during her suspension, she be barred from representing herself locally and internationally as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Whip, others commend panel

In his contribution, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno; Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro; and Senators Jimoh Ibrahim, Sunday Karimi, Francis Fadahunsi, Mohammed Dandutse, Cyril Fasuyi, and Adams Oshiomhole commended the committee for a job well done.

This is just as they condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s disobedience of the Senate Rules, which in their opinion, brought the law-making body into disrepute.

They called for the enforcement of the sanctions, arguing that anything short of that would lay a dangerous precedent for the parliament.

On his part, Senator Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North) sought the protection of the aides of the embattled lawmaker as he called for the amendment of the prayer concerning them.

Kalu said, “We cannot punish the aides of Senator Natasha for an offence they did not commit. They are staff of the National Assembly and they have no other farm or means of livelihood apart from the salaries they earn from the Senate.

“As such, it would be wrong for us as a Senate to deny them and their families their salaries. I move that we should please amend that recommendation and allow them to earn their salaries.”

The Senate agreed with Kalu’s suggestion and saved the Kogi Senator’s aides from losing their salaries for six months.

In a debate featuring lawmakers elected on the platforms of different political parties, the Senate adopted all the recommendations, albeit with an amendment to prayer six, allowing the Kogi lawmaker’s aide to draw their salaries and allowances during the suspension period.

Effort by a former president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, to stop the red chamber from withdrawing the security aides of the suspended senator failed as the Senate President rejected it.

After the adoption of the report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan briefly interrupted the proceedings.

She said, “This injustice against me will not be sustained. I will fight against it.”

The Kogi politician was, thereafter, escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms personnel in the chamber.

She rebuffed efforts by journalists to speak with her as she drove away in her black Sports Utility Vehicle.

Earlier before her suspension, she had resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senator Akpabio during plenary, this time, on behalf of her constituents, led by one Zubairu Yakubu.

After confirming there were no legal barriers, Akpabio directed her to lay the petition before the Senate.

Her petition was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Imasuen with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

Natasha’s husband, my close friend – Akpabio

Meanwhile, Akpabio has disclosed that he slept in a hotel located within the premises of the Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State when Akpoti-Uduaghan wedded her heartthrob, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He said, “The person we are talking about here is the wife of my very good friend, or so I thought. I slept in Dangote Cement Factory in Obajana, Kogi State on the night of Senator Natasha’s wedding because the Kogi airport lights were in a poor state.”

The former governor disclosed that as the Senate President, his responsibility is to protect the institution, relying on the rules.

“The rules give me the power to give a ruling on points of order. I’m in the best position to interpret the rules of the Senate,” he added.

In the same vein, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, denied threatening Akpoti-Uduaghan during a midnight conversation with her and challenged security agencies to investigate his claims.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s colleague from Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Karimi also apologised to Akpabio for backing her for a leadership role.

The Senate, thereafter, warned the suspended senator to stop violating the Senate Standing Rules.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Monguno, gave the warning after reporting to the Senate that the embattled lawmaker had persistently refused to stand to her feet anytime the Senate President led the procession to commence the day’s plenary in clear violation of the Senate Standing Orders 55(1).

Monguno said Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot hide under a session of the rules to air her opinions and at the same time disregard other provisions in the Standing Orders.

“Senator Natasha has been consistently and persistently in breach of this rule. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. We urge her to study the rules and comply in observance and not in breach,” Monguno said.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has continued to reverberate across the polity with the NBA, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi expressing displeasure over the handling of the case.

The Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, queried the manner in which the matter was handled.

She stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which is a build up on the dispute between her and Akpabio, might not have been the right decision to take in the interest of justice.

Stressing that in the interest of justice, she deserved fair hearing before such decision should have been taken.

She said, “To start with I will say on the suspension, we are all lawyers and would like to see fairness across board. We know the allegation is very big and he who asserts must prove so we will want her to prove the allegations and we expect fairness in it.

“I see her suspension as a kind of intimidation; you cannot be a judge in your own court. If something affects you, slide by the side and let justice take its course because we need to see fairness.

‘’We as citizens we would like to see a fair level ground for everybody. She is alleging and proving and peradventure she is unable to prove what she has alleged, she knows what would come to her. We are in a democracy, suspension is not the answer.’’

Speaking further, Muhammad noted, “The question here is: Did the committee call her before suspending her?  Did she refuse to come? Did she send a representation? If she was not called then what was the yard stick used in suspending her and if she was called and she refused to go that will be very wrong of her because she was called to prove her innocence and her refusing to honour the invite will be wrong.

‘’ Those who suspended her should know there are people out there watching and we all want justice because as far as we are concerned, the Senate is a sacred place and what is happening right now should not be happening.’’

 Professor Itsey Sagay (SAN) stated that since the matter was already before a court of law, it should have been left for the courts to decide.

‘’The matter is in court as I know and I’m surprised they didn’t leave it at that stage. I feel very sympathetic towards her because in an assembly full of men there’s a tendency towards self-defence but the men rather than looking at the matter objectively, they didn’t.

‘’I think very seriously she is at a disadvantage in that type of circle. It can never be right because everybody is saying I could be the one. My advice to her is to put the matter behind her and carry on with her life totally ignoring all those things and do her job for her people of Kogi knowing that they elected her,’’ he counselled.

 Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, believed the Senate was too hasty in their decision, saying, “My comment on the decision of the Senate is that it is hasty.”

 Like the NBA, Wale Balogun (SAN), argued that there are procedural steps that should be followed before the lawmaker was suspended.

“Legally, it is an internal affair of the legislators and they have their rules of engagement provided exercising their right and rules of engagement which they comply with as their own internal rules and regulations and then in addition to that, exercising such actions in compliance with the Constitution.

‘’For instance, was she heard? This is a fundamental constitutional provision. The Constitution requires that your internal procedure notwithstanding, should ensure that the person is invited. She should have been heard.’’

Another senior lawyer,  Lekan Ojo (SAN) also questioned the suspension stating that she has a right to cry out to the public.

“They suspended her for what? For crying to the public. But again, there are certain things in life when you get to a particular stage or you attain a particular status in life, there are ways and manners in which you must go about particular things,’’ he noted.

Atiku, PDP caution Senate leadership

The former Vice President, speaking through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, told The TheNigerian that Nigerian leaders are not creating an environment that enables women to thrive and contribute to the country’s development.

The Waziri Adamawa expressed concern over the Senate’s decision against Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it an attack on affirmative action.

He stated, “Has there been an investigation? No. So, Atiku’s position hasn’t changed. Whichever way you look at this, there is a concern. Any society that does not optimally use the assets available to it, particularly by giving women the opportunity to thrive, is failing.

 “About half of our population is women, and if we don’t deliberately create an environment conducive to promoting women’s interests—whether in politics, business, or any other human endeavour—we are underutilizing our potential.

“We’re not providing half of our population the opportunities to thrive and add value to society. With International Women’s Day coming up on March 8, it raises serious concerns. The Senate’s action of suspending Natasha for six months without conducting an investigation is an attack on affirmative action.”

Obi, who spoke through his former media aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also frowned on the development.

“The situation is quite disappointing,” he lamented.

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticised Akpabio for not stepping down to allow an independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Osadolor described the six-month suspension imposed on Uduaghan-Akpoti as shameful.

The PDP youth leader equally dragged opposition lawmakers for failing to speak out and make their voices heard when it mattered most.

He stated, “The Senate President should have excused himself; he wasn’t truly a man of integrity. He should have stepped aside and allowed the investigation to proceed. I was deeply moved by this, and I’m sure every person of goodwill would be as well.

“Natasha could have been our sister, our wife, our daughter, or our mother. To see them all gang up and use state power and bureaucracy to silence her voice is shameful. For me, it was even more shameful for the opposition members on the floor of the Senate. They failed to speak up when it mattered.

“They were trying to stay in Akpabio’s good books. Looking at the whole situation, no one could stand up to be counted because they didn’t want to be kicked out or labelled as rebels. It’s a shame. But I believe Natasha has made her points. Though the majority will have their way, the minority will also have their day.”

The leadership of the Labour Party on called on the Nigerian Senate to reconsider the suspension of the legislator.

In a telephone interview, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, described the verdict as a disheartening and shoddy arrangement.

He said, “The suspension is draconian. The woman, I am told, was not given the opportunity to properly defend herself. That is where I and most Nigerians have issues. Don’t forget she is representing an entire senatorial zone with eight or more local governments.

“Asking her not to be in the senate for six months is undemocratic. The Labour Party stands for gender inclusivity. If the woman said that injustice was done, then they should critically look at the woman’s complaint. But unilaterally suspending her without hearing her out is injustice.

“The Labour Party does not support that. So, I think they should bring her back and revisit her case. If she says that there was an allegation of sexual harassment, at least, you should look into it and whoever is involved should clear himself of that.

 “But we discovered the person is even the judge in a matter that concerns him. Where is that done? So, I think that matter should be revisited.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, expressed shock at the outcome.

According to him, the complaint brought to the floor of the Senate should have been properly investigated before an action was taken.

“Well, should someone be suspended for raising an issue fundamental to her well-being and others? That’s one question. There’s another argument about her sitting position. When Akpabio argued about his sitting position in the past, was he also suspended?

“If a person is saying that certain thing happened to me, and you strike it out on a technicality, saying that she signed it herself or something. You haven’t even gone into the details or the merits of the matter to know whether she lied or she was right.

“Instead, you punished the person by suspending her for six months and withholding her allowances, salary and other benefits. It doesn’t seem straightforward to me. That’s all I’ll say,” he stated.

The Senate has announced Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central senatorial district, as the Senate Committee Chairman on Diaspora.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.
Shortly after the announcement, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan vowed to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians abroad, ensuring the country reaps the benefits of their expertise and financial contributions.

She lamented that Nigeria has failed to capitalise on the technological expertise of its citizens living abroad.
The senator also emphasised the enormous financial contributions made by Nigerians abroad, stressing the need to make it easier and cheaper for them to send money back home.

“No country has received as much foreign inflow as Nigeria in the last decade. In the wake of the ‘JAPA’ season, Nigeria’s foreign inflow at $25bn is likely to increase.

“In 2024, the remittance flow to Subharan Africa reached $54bn with Nigeria accounting for 35.19 per cent. It can increase if the cost of sending money is reduced from 7.5% to 3% and consider having a Diaspora bank in Nigeria like Ghana,” she said.

She expressed optimism that her committee leadership would significantly benefit Nigeria and its diaspora community.

The Senate also named Sens. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) and Babangida Hussaini (APC-Jigawa) as Chairmen of the Senate Committees on the South-East Development Commission and North-West Development Commission.

Sen. Mohammed Dandutse (APC-Katsina), North-West Development Commission, and Sen. Ken Eze (APC-Ebonyi), South East Development Commission, amongst others, were also named as vice chairmen of the committees.

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit scheduled to hold between January 27 and 28, 2025.

 

The Summit, hosted by the government of Tanzania in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, aims to advance ‘‘Mission 300,’’ an initiative to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

 

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in Dar es Salaam, African leaders, private sector leaders, development partners, and civil society groups will strategise to accelerate energy access across the continent.

 

The summit will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources to address Africa’s energy challenges.

 

Discussions will also focus on accelerating energy access in underserved regions, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and mobilising private sector investment.

 

The statement reads, “On the first day, at the ministerial level, participating countries, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies, termed compacts, detailing their approaches to achieving universal energy access within five years.

 

“On the second day, Heads of State will endorse the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, outlining a unified roadmap for Africa’s progress towards the Mission 300 objectives.

 

“President Tinubu will deliver a national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to achieving universal access to energy and its leadership role in Africa’s energy sector.

 

“He will also highlight Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and its strategy to drive integrated energy delivery in the continent.”

 

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, and other senior government officials will accompany President Tinubu on the trip.

 

He will return to Abuja after the summit.

In a bid to demonstrate strong collaboration between Nigeria and international development partners, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, will lead a delegation along with States Heads of Service on a study tour to Singapore.

The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation secured substantial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the pivotal study tour.

This tour, which will involve the Heads of Civil Service from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will take place from January 23 to 26, 2025.

This initiative marks the first phase of a two-part programme aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s Civil Service by drawing on the highly regarded Singapore Public Service model and tailoring it to improve efficiency and accountability within Nigeria’s Civil Service.

In discussing the goals and anticipated benefits of the Study Tour, Walson-Jack stated that it represents a unified effort to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The tour aims to build capacity, strengthen collaboration between the Federal and State Civil Services, and fully implement the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25),” she said.

She further said it reflects the federal government’s dedication to reforming and modernizing the Public Service by incorporating international best practices.

The head of Civil Service noted that the study tour is driven by the objectives of enhancing Public Service reforms, promoting digital transformation and innovation, facilitating effective policy formulation and implementation, fostering public-private partnerships, and improving cooperation between federal and state civil services.

“During the three-day trip, participants will gain first-hand experience of Singapore’s governance structures, resource management, and operational strategies.

“The delegation plans to visit key institutions including the Public Service Division, the Civil Service College, the UNDP-supported Global Centre for Public Service Excellence, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

“Additional institutions on the agenda include the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), SkillsFuture Singapore, the Strategy Group, and various Open Government Projects (OGP),” she said.

 

Top officials of the executive arm of government, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and heads of agencies such as the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Mohammed Ali, were on Thursday grilled by Senators during the 2024/2025 budget defence sessions at the Senate.

The Minister of Finance, Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Bagudu, were particularly grilled by the Senate Committee on Appropriation.

Meanwhile, the heads of NOA and NAN had challenging encounters with the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation.

Edun had found himself in a tight spot when members of the Senate Appropriation Committee, led by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), demanded answers on the performance of the 2024 budget, especially its capital component.

Senator Ningi asked: “What is the budget performance achieved so far for the 2024 fiscal year, particularly in terms of capital expenditure?

“How much has been saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, and how has it been expended?

“What has been spent on debt servicing in 2024, and what is the projection for 2025?

“Will the extension of the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025, guarantee better implementation results given the current low performance?”

Apparently unsettled by the barrage of questions from the lawmaker, Edun requested a closed-door session with the members of the Legislative Committee in order to provide detailed explanations. “Are we in a closed-door session? If not, I humbly request that, for detailed responses to these questions,” the Minister pleaded.

The Committee chairman, Senator Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West), saved the day when he subsequently excused journalists for the session to continue privately.

At a separate budget defence session, the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, chaired by Senator Kenneth Eze (APC, Ebonyi Central), criticised the budgetary submissions of NOA and NAN, ordering their heads to revise and re-present their proposals for the 2025 fiscal year.

DG of NOA, Issa-Onilu, faced probing questions about the National Identity Project, which the committee claimed was largely unknown to Nigerians, especially at the grassroots.

In defence, Issa-Onilu emphasised the project’s importance in fostering a value system for nation-building. “The challenge with our value system is linked to national identity, which is crucial for galvanising Nigerians towards development and growth,” he stated.

Despite his explanations, the committee insisted that the NOA revise its programmes to better reflect the needs of the 2025 fiscal year.

Similarly, NAN MD Ali was directed to reconcile discrepancies in figures presented for the 2024 budget implementation before returning with proposals for the 2025 fiscal year.

The Senate’s intense scrutiny of the budget performances for 2024 and 2025 propals highlighted its commitment to accountability and ensuring transparency in the appropriation and utilisation of public funds.