The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has launched an investigation into the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Binyerem Ukaire, over the alleged delay in processing funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for agencies under the ministry.
The anti-graft agency reportedly invited Ukaire, alongside heads of the affected agencies, for questioning over claims that payment files for the approved funds were withheld despite receiving presidential authorization.
The agencies affected include the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
According to sources familiar with the matter, the funds had already been approved by President Tinubu but were not processed for release due to disagreements over administrative procedures.
It was alleged that the Permanent Secretary declined to process the payment documents after requesting agency heads to make detailed presentations on their ongoing projects and the utilization of allocated funds.
However, officials of some of the agencies reportedly challenged the request, maintaining that it was inconsistent with existing civil service regulations governing the relationship between supervising ministries and government agencies.
They argued that agencies are accountable to their governing boards and supervising ministers, citing existing guidelines from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The disagreement reportedly stalled the release of the approved funds, prompting the ICPC to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the delay.
Sources said investigators questioned both the Permanent Secretary and heads of the affected agencies to establish why the payment files were not processed despite presidential approval.
Although those invited were reportedly released after the interrogation, the investigation is said to be ongoing.
Meanwhile, the controversy appears to have eased, as the Permanent Secretary has reportedly approved and forwarded the payment files for the next stage of processing.
Officials of some of the affected agencies confirmed that the documents had been transmitted and that they are now awaiting the final disbursement of the approved funds into their respective accounts.
Credit: NaijaNews except headline
