Di money wey President Bola Tinubu approve for di agencies under Ministry of Information and National Orientation no don release up to now. Dis one dey raise question about how government dey spend money and who dey in charge.
According to sources wey sabi di matter, di approval happen about one month ago. But di funds still dey for processing. Di affected agencies na Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Wetin cause di delay? Source tell BusinessDay say Binyerem Ukaire, wey be permanent secretary for di ministry, no approve di payment file because some agency heads no appear before am to explain dia activities and how dem go use di money.
Di development don make people begin ask question about di balance between oversight and independence of agencies wey law create. Di total amount wey approve no clear, but source say di delay don affect operations of some agencies, especially VON.
One staff of VON wey no want make dem call im name tok say di situation don affect news production and publication. Di staff add say power supply problem don also make work hard. “If electricity no dey, office no dey work,” di staff tok.
BusinessDay no fit confirm if di operational wahala na only because of di delay.
Di heads of di agencies reject di request for presentation. Dem argue say e no be part of di normal process between ministry and agency. Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, attempt to settle di matter. But source say di permanent secretary maintain say agency head must show how dem go use di money before payment go continue.
Suleiman Haruna, director wey speak for di minister, tell BusinessDay say approval of funds no mean immediate payment. Government procedure must first complete. “Yes, funds were approved. But there are laid-down processes wey must finish before money go enter agency account. Once those procedures finish, funds go release. That na di civil service way,” Haruna tok.
On di claim say agencies ask to provide detailed explanation, Haruna say e no know anything. “All I know na say every approval follow process. If any agency receive letter wey demand line-by-line explanation, I believe dem go reply. But I no hear anything about dat one,” e add.
Di permanent secretary confirm say funds no release but say di file dey process.
Di dispute don also bring attention to relationship between ministries and agencies. A circular wey Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) release on August 2, 1999 talk about how agencies get operational independence. Di circular say supervising ministries no suppose take over day-to-day running of agencies. For financial matters, ministries no suppose interfere with agency funds.
E no clear if dat circular still dey work for current government.
Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist, talk say if di reports say permanent secretary hold funds wey President approve correct, e raise question about power of perm sec. “Assuming di reports accurate, e raise fundamental question about scope of Permanent Secretary power and whether e fit withhold approved funds because of extra requirement,” Adeyanju tok.
E say di power to approve budget and oversee funds na for National Assembly. “Once funds properly appropriated and executive approval given, di question of accountability no be for one administrative officer to decide,” e add.
Agu Henry, lawyer with Integrity Chambers, say if President approve funds, Ministry of Finance and Office of Accountant-General complete release process, and perm sec delay without legal reason, there fit be consequences under Public Service Rules and Financial Regulations. E say such action fit be breach of duty of accounting officer.
But Agu add say perm sec no suppose release funds if lawful reason dey, like incomplete process or legal requirement.
Solomon Apenja, Abuja legal practitioner, say di dispute raise question about role of ministry and agency independence. “Di permanent secretary as chief accounting officer get responsibility to ensure proper use of funds. Asking agencies to present action plan no dey unreasonable for country wey accountability dey problem,” Apenja tok.
