Pension
PTAD inaugurates anti-corruption unit to boost operational transparency
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has inaugurated the reconstituted Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to enhance transparency in its operations.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, during the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday said that the directorate needed to inaugurate the unit because it handled public funds.
Ejikeme said, “As an organisation that handles public funds, the need for transparency and accountability in our activities to engender public confidence, especially those of our stakeholders is a sine qua non.
“The ACTU has the responsibility to perform duties as enshrined in the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Act 2000.
“To ensure good governance, this will help the directorate and those who run it to continue to retain the trust of pensioners.
”In PTAD, we are committed to ensuring the integrity of PTAD’s pension administration system so that pensioners bare rest assured that their entitlements will be processed and paid accurately, fully and on time.”
She said that the ACTU was expected to be the directorate’s watchdog in ensuring the maintenance of zero tolerance to fraud.
The Chairman of ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, in his remark said that the event added to the effort of the directorate in promoting and entrenching values of integrity, accountability and transparency.
Owasanoye was represented by Mr Demola Bakare, Deputy Director and Head, System Study Division, ICPC.
“The ACTU of this directorate has always been a source of pride to the commission because of its past activities and achievements.
“And no doubt that the newly reconstituted unit, after this inauguration will carry on this positive legacy.
“The unit fared well in areas of monitoring and investigations to eliminate pension scam. Going forward, the ACTU is advised to also prioritise other duties like the conducting of systems study.
“And review into processes and procedures of the directorate. As well as constant sensitization of staff against the ills of corruption in the workplace which are still part of the preventive mechanism for which the ACTU was set up.
“For the ACTU to continue to achieve this giant stride, I implore the management not to relent in its support to the unit by continuing to provide a conducive environment for the unit to function.
“Provision of funds and office accommodation as well as incorporating its members in various standing committees as provided for in the extant circular of government,” he said.
Owasanoye said that the ACTU was not established to displace management; rather, the unit would complement management’s effort in promoting the corporation’s core values.
The chairman said that the ACTU would also examine systems, processes and procedures prone to corruption and proffering solutions, develop and review code of ethics for staff and ensure compliance with same.
“The ACTU will also, monitor budget implementation of the corporation, implementation of the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard and undertaking preliminary investigations into complaints/reports received amongst others, ‘’he said.
Owasanoye urged the appointed members to work hard, be above board, be responsible and responsive in the exercise of their functions and avoid any questionable act, saying that “remember, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”
Responding, the newly inaugurated chairman of the unit, Mrs Ada Phil-Ugochukwu, said her team would synergise with relevant departments to ensure that PTAD continued to remain an agency with zero tolerance to fraud. (NAN)
Africa
Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has handed over illicit drugs worth N117.59 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Comptroller of the command, Mr James Ojo, disclosed this during the handing over of the drugs to Mr Olusegun Adeyeye, the Commander of NDLEA, Idiroko Special Area Command, in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Friday.
Ojo said the customs handed over the seized cannabis and tramadol tablets to the Idiroko Special Command for further investigation in line with the standard operating procedures and inter-agency collaboration.
He said the illicit drugs were seized in various strategic locations between January and November 21, 2024, in Ogun State.
He added that the illicit drugs were abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, the Agbawo/Igankoto area of Yewa North Local Government Area, and Imeko Afton axis.
Ojo said that the seizure of the cannabis sativa and tramaling tablets, another brand of tramadol, was made possible through credible intelligence and strategic operations of the customs personnel.
“The successful interception of these dangerous substances would not have been possible without the robust collaboration and support from our intelligence units, local informants and sister agencies.
“These landmark operations are testament to the unwavering dedication of the NCS to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he said.
He said the seizures comprised 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels, weighing 7,217.7 kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each, with a total Duty Paid Value of N117,587,405,00.
He described the height of illicit drugs smuggling in the recent time as worrisome.
This, he said, underscores the severity of drug trafficking within the borders.
“Between Oct. 13 and Nov. 12 alone, operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa, weighing 1,337kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each,” he said.
Ojo said the seizures had disrupted the supply chain of illicit drugs, thereby mitigating the risks those substances posed to the youth, families and communities.
He lauded the synergy between its command, security agencies and other stakeholders that led to the remarkable achievements.
Ojo also commended the Comptroller General of NCS for creating an enabling environment for the command to achieve the success.
Responding, Adeyeye, applauded the customs for achieving the feat.
Adeyeye pledged to continue to collaborate with the customs to fight against illicit trade and drug trafficking in the state.
Africa
Ann-Kio Briggs Faults Tinubu for Scrapping Niger Delta Ministry
Prominent Niger Delta human rights activist and environmentalist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta, describing it as ill-advised and detrimental to the oil-rich region.
Briggs expressed her concerns during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
“The Ministry of Niger Delta was created by the late (President Umaru) Yar’Adua. There was a reason for the creation. So, just removing it because the president was advised. I want to believe that he was advised because if he did it by himself, that would be terribly wrong,” she stated.
President Tinubu, in October, dissolved the Ministry of Niger Delta and replaced it with the Ministry of Regional Development, which is tasked with overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North-West Development Commission, and North-East Development Commission.
Briggs questioned the rationale behind the restructuring, expressing concerns about its feasibility and implications. “But that’s not going to be the solution because who is going to fund the commissions? Is it the regions because it is called the Regional Development Ministry? Is it the states in the regions? What are the regions because we don’t work with regions right now; we are working with geopolitical zones,” she remarked.
She added, “Are we going back to regionalism? If we are, we have to discuss it. The president can’t decide on his own to restructure Nigeria. If we are restructuring Nigeria, the president alone can’t restructure Nigeria, he has to take my opinion and your opinion into consideration.”
Briggs also decried the longstanding neglect of the Niger Delta despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy since 1958. “The Niger Delta has been developing Nigeria since 1958. We want to use our resources to develop our region; let regions use their resources to develop themselves,” she asserted.
Reflecting on the various bodies established to address the region’s development, Briggs lamented their failure to deliver meaningful progress. She highlighted the Niger Delta Basin Authority, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), and the NDDC as examples of ineffective interventions.
“NDDC was created by Olusegun Obasanjo…There was OMPADEC before NDDC. OMPADEC was an agency. Before OMPADEC, there was the Basin Authority…These authorities were created to help us. Were we helped by those authorities? No, we were not,” she said.
Briggs further described the NDDC as an “ATM for failed politicians, disgruntled politicians, and politicians that have had their electoral wins taken away from them and given to somebody else.”
Her remarks underscore the deep-seated frustrations in the Niger Delta, where residents continue to advocate for greater control over their resources and improved governance.
General
Yobe Gov approves N619.5m for pensions, gratuities
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has approved the payment of N619.5 million for local government pensions and gratuities.
Buni, in a statement by his Director-General Press and Media Affairs Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu, said the payment was for batch 45.
He said N449.6 million of the amount would be paid to 274 retirees, while N169.9 was for the next-of-kin of 93 deceased civil servants.
Meanwhile, the governor has also approved the placement of 102 allied healthcare students on a Grade Level 05 in the state’s civil service.
Buni listed the beneficiaries to include students studying physiotherapy, pharmacy, radiography, nursing and medical laboratory sciences in various universities across the country.
(NAN)
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