Tag: MDAs

  • Taxation: FCT-IRS gives  MDAs  31st  January 2024  deadline to file all annual returns incomes

    Taxation: FCT-IRS gives MDAs 31st January 2024 deadline to file all annual returns incomes

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Federal Capital Territory Internal revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has charged all Ministries, Departments , Agencies of the government and other employers of Labour operating in the territory to file their annual returns of income from all sources for the year ended, (31st December 2023) on or before the 31st of January 2024 otherwise late filers and non-filers will be penalized in accordance with the law.

    FCT- IRS stated that in compliance with Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 (as amended) which mandates all employers of labour in the FCT to file annual returns before January 31 of every year using the prescribed forms, Form G and Form H1 respectively.

    In a statement signed by Head Corporate Communications FCT – IRS,. Mustapha Sumaila, the Taxation agency warned against non-compliance, adding that the clearly stated Sections 94, 95 and 96 of PITA which stipulate penalties for non-filing, incorrect/false declaration and late submission and the Service would not hesitate to enforce the laws on the defaulters.

    It advised that Organization that wish to file online may visit www.fctirs.gov.ng and click on create account or click on login for those already have accounts, or you can proceed to any of the FCT-IRS offices to submit electronic copies of your returns.

    It stated that the forms are also available in the 15 offices, including the Service’s headquarters for those who may want to file manually.

  • Lagos, Rivers, and FCT Lead in IGR Growth, Reaching N1.9 Trillion

    Lagos, Rivers, and FCT Lead in IGR Growth, Reaching N1.9 Trillion

    By  Milcah  Tanimu

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) topped the list in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the year 2022, generating N651.15 billion, N172.89 billion, and N124.4 billion, respectively.

    The NBS report indicates that a total of N1.93 trillion was generated from IGR across all 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, in 2022.

    The states with the lowest IGR figures were Kebbi (N9.1 billion), Taraba (N10.2 billion), and Yobe (N10.5 billion).

    The NBS report also highlighted various revenue sources, including Pay As You Earn (PAYE), direct assessment, road taxes, stamp duties, capital gain tax, withholding taxes, other taxes, and Local Government Areas’ (LGAs) revenue.

    The report outlined the following key findings:

    – In 2022, the IGR primarily came from two major revenue sources: Taxes and revenue from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
    – Taxes, a sub-category, encompassed various components such as PAYE, direct assessment, road taxes, stamp duties, capital gain tax, withholding taxes, other taxes, and LGAs revenue.
    – The combined IGR for all 36 states and the FCT in 2022 amounted to N1.92 trillion, reflecting a 1.57 percent increase compared to the N1.89 trillion generated in 2021.
    – Lagos, Rivers, and the FCT were the top performers in terms of total IGR in 2022, with N651.14 billion, N172.82 billion, and N124.36 billion, respectively.
    – Conversely, the three states with the lowest IGR during the year were Kebbi, Taraba, and Yobe, generating N9.14 billion, N10.23 billion, and N10.45 billion, respectively.

    This data highlights the fiscal performance and revenue generation across Nigerian states, demonstrating notable variations in IGR.

  • More House committees created for better oversight on MDAs – Speaker Abbas

    More House committees created for better oversight on MDAs – Speaker Abbas

    …seeks media’s support to deepen Nigeria’s democracy

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has said the standing committees of the House were increased from 109 to over 134 to allow better legislative oversight on the ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government by the legislature.

    Speaker Abbas faulted the claim in some quarters that the increase in the number of committees was to create more chairmanship and deputy chairmanship slots for members of the House, stating that the new committees were broken out of the existing ones to ease the heavy burden on some of the old ones.

    The Speaker made this known in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Press Corps.

    Speaker Abbas noted that the media is a critical part of democratic governance, hence he sought the support of the fourth estate of the realm in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

    He said: “For example, the Committee on Tertiary Education had over 300 institutions to supervise and at the end of every year, they would end up not being able to oversight some of them. So, we had to break it down to allow for efficiency and to put eyes on what the Executive is doing.”

    Speaker Abbas also disclosed that all standing committees had been given a marching orders on performance and efficiency. He said this inspired the creation of a Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees.

    “In the past, not all committees were active. Now, we want to ensure that all standing committees are active, working for the betterment of the Nigerian people. We want to ensure transparency and we want results. That is why we set up the monitoring committee to monitor their activities.

    “We have also set up a standing committee to monitor the implementation of our Legislative Agenda. I want to assure the people that we will work for the betterment of the country,” he said.

    The Speaker also stated that the existing relationship between his office and the media would be strengthened, adding that the House would be holding a quarterly media briefing to enlighten Nigerians on its activities.

    On the role the media plays in democracy, Speaker Abbas said for any democratic system to grow, the media must be objective and balanced in its reportage of activities concerning institutions like the legislature.

    Earlier in her remarks, Chairman of the House of Reps Press Corps, Ms Grace Ike, noted that the Corps was pro-democracy and was committed to promoting good governance through objective and balanced reportage.

    Ike said: “As journalists, we are also conscious of national interest and have been doing our job with utmost patriotism. We are not oblivious of the fact that the parliament is the bastion of democracy and, hence, the reports coming out of it must reflect the reality on ground and meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

    “However, we also need the cooperation and support of your leadership to continue offering undiluted service to the nation. We need the understanding of committee chairmen and their members in reciprocating our friendly gesture and carrying us along in their activities.

    “The parliament is a specialised area, so training and retraining of journalists should be given utmost priority and we look forward to seeing this materialise.”

  • REVEALED: 7000 firms, MDAs owe FG N5.2tn – Report

    REVEALED: 7000 firms, MDAs owe FG N5.2tn – Report

    Eleven ministries, departments and agencies of the government as well as over 7000 corporate and private entities currently owe the Federal Government the sum of N5.2tn, a new report by the Federal Ministry of Finance has shown.

    Details of the report were presented on Tuesday in Lagos by the Senior Development Consultant to the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Abraham Atteh, during a sensitisation workshop organised by the ministry under its Project Lighthouse programme .

    According to Atteh, the programme focused on the debt recovery drive of the Federal Government.

    Highlighting the debt portfolio, the report showed that over 7000 corporate and private entities as well as 11 agencies of the government owed the Federal Government N5.2tn/

    The Director for Information and Press, Federal Ministry of Finance, Phil Abiamuwe-Mowete, described the Project Lighthouse as a “data driven artificial intelligence engine that provides the ministry with intelligence and profiling platform to aid in policy formulation, implementation and the assessment of the impacts of those policies.”

    “Project Light-House would support MDAs in developing a more efficient revenue assessment method by ensuring that major revenue loopholes are plugged  and revenue  collection is dramatically improved.

    The Director of Special Projects, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Victor Omata, in his opening remarks, said one of the key economic policy objectives of the current administration, contained  in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, focused on improving Federal Government revenues by targeting and increasing revenues from non-oil revenue sources.

  • NASS Investigates MDAs Over N600bn Illegal Spending

    NASS Investigates MDAs Over N600bn Illegal Spending

    The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has commenced a full-scale investigation of 115 ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government for spending over N600bn outside their approved budgets on salaries and allowances.

    Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, which issued a query on the illegal expenditure, said the amount was spent between 2018 and 2022.

    The audit query read, ‘Audit observed that 203 MDAs exceeded their Personnel Cost budget by N641,757,455,172. While 115 MDAs had zero Personnel Cost, even though there was budget allocation for them, the sources of extra funds for salaries and wages in 103 were not disclosed. Also, the reasons for zero Personnel budget allocation for the 115 MDAs were not stated despite the fact that the MDAs under defence had annual budgets approved for them.”

    The OAuGF advised that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to investigate the sources of the extra-budgetary expenditures and reasons for non-compliance with financial regulations.

    The office stated that failure to justify the sources and reasons for the expenditures totalling N641.75bn, “the officers in charge should be held pecuniary responsible.”

    The acting Accountant General of the Federation, Sylva Okolieaboh, had told the committee that some of the expenditures were made based on existing circulars and directives.

    Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, however, said, “This is an aberration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is clear rape of Financial Regulation and Public Procurement Act. Nobody has the power to appropriate any money to any MDAs except the National Assembly, through the budget from Mr President. Before the passage of Mr President’s Appropriation Bill, it has to pass through stages, and after the passage, it has to be returned to the Mr President for his assent.

    “But we have discovered a situation where some ministers and heads of MDAs are fond of appropriating funds and approving several millions of naira for spending without such coming to the parliament, but relying on circulars and directives. This is illegal and we are going to stop it.”

    Oke, consequently, directed the Accountant General of the Federation to make available the list of the 115 MDAs involved in the flagged expenditures to the committee by Wednesday morning when the investigation would continue.

    The chairman added that in the spirit of fair hearing, the erring MDAs would be summoned to explain the allegation against them in the audit query.

    Earlier, Okolieaboh had expressed appreciation for cooperation being extended to his office by the parliament since he assumed office, while pledging that all invitations from the lawmakers would receive prompt responses from his office in the national interest.

  • SERAP Sues Buhari, Others Over Alleged Missing ₦106bn In 149 MDAs

    SERAP Sues Buhari, Others Over Alleged Missing ₦106bn In 149 MDAs

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari “over his failure to probe allegations that N106bn of public funds are missing from 149 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, and the recovery of any missing public funds”.

    The suit followed allegations by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in his 2018 annual audited report that over ₦105 billion of public funds are missing, misappropriated, or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs.

    Joined in the suit filed by SERAP were the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; Abubakar Malami and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

    In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/903/2021 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the group asked the court to “direct and compel President Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing N106bn of public funds, ensure prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible and the full recovery of any missing public money”.

    SERAP argued that recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s constitutional and international obligations, and reduce the growing level of public debts.

    “Directing and compelling President Buhari to ensure the investigation and prosecution of the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General would be entirely consistent with the government’s own commitment to fight corruption, improve the integrity of MDAs, and serve the public interest,” the statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare partly read.

    “The alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the indicted MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing funds could have helped the government to invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these goods and services.”

    In addition, the group wants the court to compel the president “to publish full details of the yearly budgets of all MDAs, and issue regular updates that detail their expenditures, including by making any such information easily accessible in a form that can be understood by the public”.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  • FOI Act: MDAs, CSOs Laud ROLAC on Proactive Disclosure Protocol

    FOI Act: MDAs, CSOs Laud ROLAC on Proactive Disclosure Protocol

    …As 100 MDAs, CSOs Meet in Abuja Over FOI

    Representatives of federal public institutions in Nigeria have poured encomiums on the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption -ROLAC programme of the British Council (funded by the European Union) for her support towards the development and validation of a Proactive Disclosure Protocol for Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

    Speaking during a 2-day meeting for the validation of a draft Proactive Disclosure Protocol for the Freedom of Information Act, held in Abuja, weekend, Head, Freedom of Information Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Gowon Ichibor described the FOI Proactive Disclosure Protocol as timely and capable of adding value to FOI compliance in Nigeria.

    He reiterated the commitment of the office of the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation to vigorous implementation of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act, even as he urged citizens to take advantage of the Act to ask questions about government activities.

    He further described the Proactive Disclosure Protocol as a veritable tool that will enhance the compliance of public institutions with their proactive disclosure obligation, in line with the provisions of the Act.

    Speaking earlier, Anti-corruption Manager of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, Emmanuel Uche likened corruption to darkness, describing the FOI Act as capable of dispelling the darkness.

    He also called on Nigerians to take advantage of the FOI Act to hold the government accountable, even as he urged public institutions to ensure compliance with their proactive disclosure obligation under the FOI Act, as well as other sections of the Act.

    In his presentation on the essence of the Proactive Disclosure Protocol for public institutions, ROLAC’s lead Consultant on Freedom of Information Act, Dr. Walter Duru described Proactive Disclosure as a statutory obligation under the FOI Act that public institutions are required to comply with.

    Citing section 2 of the FOI Act, Duru who is also the Executive Director of Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC and chairs the Board of the Freedom of Information Coalition in Nigeria explained that “section 2 of the FOI Act (2011) makes it a statutory obligation for public institutions to disclose certain categories of information proactively.”

    According to him, “the ability of public institutions to comply with the proactive disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act brings real meaning to section 2 the Act.”

    The proactive Disclosure Protocol provides for nine procedures for complying with the proactive disclosure section of the FOI Act. It also has a checklist for compliance, in line with the FOI Act.

    Reiterating ROLAC’s huge investments in the promotion of good governance in Nigeria, ROLAC’s Programme Officer, Pwanakei Dala explained that the organisation’s interventions on FOI and other good governance initiatives cut across five states of Kano, Lagos, Adamawa, Anambra and Edo, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, targeting federal public institutions and non-state actors.

    Moving their respective motions for the adoption of the Protocol, representative of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Chidi Ekpewerechi and his public institutions counterpart from the Bureau for Public Service Reforms, Eghe Ekpe described the Proactive Disclosure Protocol as a necessary tool for increased compliance with section 2 of the FOI Act, even as they joined their colleagues in commending ROLAC for the intervention.

    Mr. Ekpewerechi’s motion for adoption, on behalf of civil society stakeholders was seconded by Francis Ndimkoha of Citizens’ Quest for good governance; while Ekpe’s motion on behalf of public institutions was seconded by Juliet Achebe of the National Orientation Agency.

    Highlights of the 2-day meeting were formal motions by both state and non-state actors adopting and validating the Proactive Disclosure Protocol, encomiums on ROLAC by participants for its consistent support to the course of FOI implementation in Nigeria, among others.

    No fewer than one hundred (100) public institutions and civil society organizations attended the 2-day event.

    The 2-day event was put together by the Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC, in collaboration with the Freedom of Information Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice and Freedom of Information Coalition, Nigeria; with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption-ROLAC programme.

    It would be recalled that the Freedom of Information Act was signed into law on the 28th of May, 2011. The law seeks to make certain public records more freely available to citizens, even as it empowers the citizens to hold the government accountable.

  • Ministries, MDAs use consultants, BOT, PPP to steal money – EFCC Boss

    Ministries, MDAs use consultants, BOT, PPP to steal money – EFCC Boss

    Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed the tactics Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) use to steal money.

    Bawa spoke when the Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) Victor Muruako and his team visited the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

    He said the commission will work with the FRC to block budget leakages and recover operating surpluses withheld by government parastatals.

    Bawa decried the antics of some agencies that consistently undercut government in terms of revenue remittance.

    The anti-corruption chief advised the FRC to focus on the activities of consultants used by MDAs “to siphon government funds”.

    “There are a lot of leakages. Pay a special attention to consultants; all these Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT; all these Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

    “There is a lot of corruption embodiments behind the scene deals”, he said.

    Bawa assured Muruako that the EFCC will help the FRC achieve its objective of securing Nigeria from all forms of economic and financial crimes.

    The chairman also promised training support to boost the professionalism of FRC staff.

    Bawa added that EFCC knows the importance of the fiscal commission and the amount of information at its disposal.

  • SERAP Urges Buhari To Probe Missing N106bn In 149 MDAs In 2018

    SERAP Urges Buhari To Probe Missing N106bn In 149 MDAs In 2018

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that N106bn of public funds are missing from 149 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as documented in the 2018 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

    SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered.”

    SERAP also urged him “to direct Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to create a system of public announcements to name and shame the indicted 149 MDAs, including those that reportedly failed to remit over N55bn of their revenue; awarded contracts of over N18bn for services not rendered; and spent over N23bn without any supporting documents.”

    In the letter dated 17 April 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The reported missing public funds reflect the failure of the indicted MDAs to ensure strict compliance with transparency and accountability rules and regulations, and the failure of leadership of the MDAs to foster institutions that uphold the rule of law and human rights.”

    According to SERAP, “Recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s human rights obligation to progressively realize Nigerians’ rights to quality health care and education, as well as reduce the growing level of public debts.”

    The letter, read in part: “SERAP urges you to ask Mrs Ahmed and Mr Ahmed Idris, the Accountant-General of the Federation to explain why they allegedly failed to ensure strict compliance with relevant legislation, rules and regulations across all MDAs, despite the warning and recommendations by the Auditor-General.”

    “SERAP also urges you to direct Mrs Ahmed to publish full details of the yearly budgets of all MDAs, and issue regular updates that accurately detail their expenditures, including by making any such information easily accessible in a form that can be understood by the public.”

    “The Auditor-General stated that the alleged infractions by the 149 MDAs could have been prevented if the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation had heeded his warning to ensure strict compliance with relevant legislation, rules and regulations across all MDAs.”

    “SERAP is concerned that the alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing funds could have helped your government to invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these services.”

    “Investigating and prosecuting the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators. It will improve the integrity of MDAs, as well as serve the public interest.”

    “Any failure to promptly investigate the allegations and prosecute suspected perpetrators would breach Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation, and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.”

    “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

    “SERAP has carefully analysed the recently released 2018 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation and our analysis reveals the grim allegations that N105,662,350,077.46 of public funds are missing, misappropriated or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs in 2018.”

    “According to the Auditor-General, 35 MDAs failed to remit N48,551,274,468.35 of generated revenue, and N5,418,780,747.23 of statutory deductions including value added tax, withholding tax, and stamp duties in 2018, thereby ‘depriving the government of the much-needed fund to pursue its agenda.’”

    “Similarly, 25 MDAs awarded contracts amounting to N18,369,595,564.47 in violation of the Public Procurement Act (PPA), 2007, including disregard to due process, irregularity in payment for contracts, excessive pricing of procurements, payment for services not rendered, and payment in full for uncompleted projects.”

    “Another N23,486,881,920.49 was spent by 48 MDAs without following the rules and regulations relating to spending procedures and policies, and without any documents to support such spending. Furthermore, 11 MDAs paid N8,389,842,637.88 for store items that were not taken on store charge. The Auditor-General fears that the items may be ‘missing/misappropriated.’”

    “In addition, 18 MDAs paid N354,223,774.67 as cash advances to staff without duly retiring the money, contrary to the Financial Regulation 1405 and Financial Regulation 1420. According to the Auditor-General, ‘unretired cash and personal advances may be a deliberate attempt to divert public funds for personal use.’”

    “Moreover, 12 MDAs spent N371,750,964 as cash advances, above the approved threshold of N200,000.00, contrary to the Treasury Circular Ref. No. TRY/A2&B2/2009OAGF/CAD/26/V, which requires all local procurement of stores and services costing above N200,000.00 to be made only through the award of contracts.”

    “There are several other infractions documented in the report, a copy of which can be obtained from the Auditor-General’s office. The 2018 audited report therefore suggests a grave violation of the public trust. These damning revelations also suggest that the indicted MDAs lack effective and credible internal processes to prevent and combat corruption.”

    “Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; anti-corruption legislation, and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption; and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”

    The letter was copied to Mr Malami; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Mrs Ahmed; and chairmen of the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.

  • MDAs mismanaged over N3bn Covid-19 procurement funds – Dataphyte

    MDAs mismanaged over N3bn Covid-19 procurement funds – Dataphyte


    By Amadin Idahosa

    A media research and data analytics organization, Dataphyte has stated that Federal Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments, MDAs mismanaged at least N3 billion in COVID-19 emergency procurements according to data at their disposal.
    Senior Data Reporter at Dataphyte, Aderemi Ojekunle made this known during a special radio town hall meeting against corruption, organized by Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, in Abuja.
    Dataphyte’s statement is coming on the heels of investigative reports showing that emergency expenses by MDAs was floored by lack of strict mechanism, bureaucratic process, underhand deals in procurement procedures and inflation of prices by government agencies.
    Ojekunle bemoaned wastage of scarce resources by MDAs and stressed that the situation was more pathetic because over bloating of prices of Personal Protective Equipment should not be the case during a pandemic.
    “Over N3 billion has been wasted, mismanaged by various MDAs and according to the various reports I have done on COVID-19 and if we look at the impact of this N3 billion, it would have cause Nigeria to build a lot of schools, hospitals and help us to manage a lot of things in society,” Ojekunle stated Iyanuoluwa Bolarinwa, Manager at CIVIC HIVE revealed during the program that the Federal Ministry of Health’s claim to have spent about N37 million on 1800 pieces of face masks, which means each face mask costs about N25,000. On a similar note, a reporter at International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Amos Abba, added that their investigations exposed that National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, purchased thermometers at about N84,000 each against N25,000 sold at open market at the time of the investigation.
    Community Engagement officer at Connected Development, CODE, Uzochukwu Ohanyere, revealed that the Federal Government received over N95 billion in COVID-19 donations.
    He, however, lamented federal and state governments unwillingness to respond to Freedom of Information, FOI, requests.
    While expressing worry over lack of transparency in public offices, he stressed that lack of sanction on MDAs indicted of misappropriation was breeding corruption in the public service.
    On ways to curb corruption in public service and procurement, While Bolarinwa called for creation of a bill to empower Auditor General of the Federation to take action against MDAs found wanting, Abba suggested that naming and shaming of corrupt government officials and MDAs will drastically reduce corruption in public service.  On his part, a political analyst, Jonathan Ipaa stated that corruption in Nigeria with funds donated to help the nation during a pandemic was very unfortunate and tarnishing the nation’s image more.
    Ipaa urged citizens to get involved in governance and be at the forefront of holding the public office holders accountable.
    The PRIMORG’s Town Hall Meeting Against Corruption is aimed at calling the public and government attention to specific issues of corruption in Nigeria.