by Idowu Samuel
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been urged to invite the Minister of Special Duties, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, to substantiate the allegation of corruption he levelled against his colleague in the Information and Communications Ministry, Professor Dora Akunyili.
This is coming on the heels of reports that members of Anti-Corruption Revolution (ANCOR), recently launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had petitioned the commission to invite the former Attorney-General of the Federation to shed light on his allegation against the information minister.
Some civil society groups including NGOs, National Network For Anti-Corruption and Yar’Adua/Jonathan Support Group, had also filed separate petitions before the ICPC, urging it to consider the weighty allegation Aondoakaa levelled against Akunyili and make him prove such publicly.
According to a petition to ICPC, signed by national co-ordinator, NGO Network, Mallam Mahmud Boguei, the allegations by Aondoakaa had offered proof of alleged large-scale corruption being perpetrated by cabinet members under President Umaru Yar’Adua, a reason it said the anti-corruption agency should make him shed light on the corrupt members of the cabinet.
Attah, in the petition to ICPC, referred to section 19 of ICPC Act 2000, stating that since the law frowns on any attempt by public officers using their offices to amass wealth, it should, as a matter of necessity, probe the allegation by the new Minister of Special Duties.
TUC Demands Probe of Ministries, Agencies
By Linda Eroke, 02.15.2010
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, to probe the activities of the various ministries and agencies during the period that the seat of power was vacant due to President Musa Yar’Adua’s medical vacation.
The Congress also called for the evaluation of the various ministries to determine how money and other budgetary provisions were spent during this period.
TUC, in a statement jointly signed by its President General, Comrade Peter Esele and Secretary General, Comrade John Kolawole, noted that the recent minor shakeup was inadequate going by the failure of the various ministries in their administration.
The Congress suggested that fresh hands be brought in while those that have become heady and unpopular be dropped immediately.
The Congress, while commending members of the National Assembly for declaring Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as the nation’s Acting President said the joint action have saved the country from further ridicule among the comity of nations and also helped to confirm that the country belongs to everyone irrespective of tribe or religious beliefs.
The move, the Congress explained, has also gone a long way to re-assure all on the stance of the present administration in the sanctity of rule of law and respect for the nation’s constitution.
The Congress however urged the Acting President to initiate actions on burning national issues such as poor power supply, irregularities in fuel distribution, poor infrastructures and the provision of world class health facility that is capable of handling divers kinds of health cases.
TUC also advised Jonathan to be decisive in determining those to work with either as ministers, special advisers and other machineries necessary for effective governance.
“No minister should be higher than the office he/she occupies. What we are saying in essence is that fresh hands should be brought in while those that have become heady and unpopular should be dropped immediately.
The last minor shakeup is not all what we expect,” TUC said. The present bunch of ministers have failed the nation going by ministry evaluation.
“We also demand a probe into the activities of the various ministries and agencies during the period this whole episode was been played out to determine how money and other budgetary provisions were spent,” the congress said.
No comments:
Post a Comment