Following the sustained loud outcry over suffocating hardship in the country occasioned by widespread corruption in the public space, the Association of Public Service Professionals of Nigeria has called on President Tinubu to direct relevant security agencies to investigate and probe the activities of some Permanent Secretaries who have corruption and abuse of office allegations pending against them.
Reports of corruption against some of these Public Officers came to limelight during the last days of the previous administration, thus necessitating widespread demand for their probe and sack.
Speaking on the sidelines of their recent meeting in Abuja, the leader of APSPN, Comrade Isa Yakubu told this paper that doing away with corrupt public servants has become necessary and of immediate concern in view of the need for the present administration to veer off the discredited path of the past government which was characterized by seeming huge corruption, especially at the twilight of its tenure which recorded unprecedented financial improprieties perpetrated by some Permanent Secretaries.
The effect of that, he stated was a huge slur on the credibility of the former President Buhari who hitherto was reputed to be a crusader for anti corruption. Yakubu noted that his Association- the APSPN and other concerned bodies have over time called on President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on corruption in the top echelon of the civil service where he said the biggest financial heist is perpetrated.
He said, “corruption in the civil service is at the root of the economic malaise in the country and we must not relent in urging President Tinubu to take drastic measures in ensuring that it is eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum if the programmes and plans of developing the nation will meet the expected result”.
Conscious of the fact that the Permanent Secretaries are the chief accounting officers of their respective Ministries and command a reasonable control over expenditures, he observed that many of them have constituted themselves into huge obstacles against the attainment of the lofty objectives of previous administrations because of greed and selfish interest. “It is no longer news that top Executives of Ministries and Departments have become the richest individuals in the country, owning massive and costly properties in choice areas of the Federal Capital territory and flaunting bloated lifestyles from fraudulently acquired wealth”, Yakubu added.
While calling on the President to sanitize the Civil Service, he reminded the present administration of the need to lift the country out of its economic quagmire by ensuring that prudent management of the nation’s resources is not compromised but allocated in line with official guidelines and extant rules.
Prominent among these Permanent Secretaries the professional body fingered in corruption are Dr Emmanuel Meribole and Dr. Olusade Adesola for Aviation & Aerospace Development and Federal Capital Development Area respectively. The duo according to the group have been alleged to be very close to the present Head of Service, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan who should have queried some of their actions but is not doing so, because of which they operate with impunity.
It will be recalled that the Permanent secretary of the Aviation Ministry, Dr Meribole was dragged to court by an NGO over his opaque transactions and refusal to disclose information regarding the myriad of questionable contracts awarded by the Ministry and other matters bordering on abuse of office.
The matter which was brought to court under the Freedom of Information Act, is said to be coming up for hearing sometime September 2023 and Dr Meribole could be facing indictment as the group has vowed to follow the matter to its logical conclusion.
Also, while cautioning the new aviation minister on the need to remain neutral as the above mentioned individuals face their queries, the group said, “This is why the new Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who is noted for defending the course of justice, equity and good governance should maintain some circumspection and allow the Permanent secretary, Dr Emmanuel Meribole clear himself of the huge allegations against his person.
“Mr Keyamo being among the new breed of Nigerians striving for the recovery of the country from the vice grip of corrupt government officials is not new to the implications of the Permanent Secretary’s disobedience to the law of the land. The Minister has consistently been reported saying he will be transparent and therefore must expect his staff to be transparent as well, suggesting that consequences will visit any contrary action.”
In a similar situation, the group noted that the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Olusade Adesola is alleged to be roasting in his own stew over allegations of impropriety ranging from executing massive capital projects contrary to Presidential directives and employment of over 10,000 staff into the system without due process. It is gathered that he is currently under investigation by the National Assembly.
While quoting Newspaper reports, it said many stakeholders have expressed concern why Dr Adesola has not been sacked or arrested by the anti-graft agencies against the backdrop of huge allegations of corruption and abuse of office leveled against him. He is rumoured to be the longest serving Permanent Secretary, and this is made possible by his strong connection with the Head of service.
The Association of Public Service Professionals however, stated that they are very optimistic that all Permanent Secretaries with issues to settle with either the courts or anti-graft agencies are staying on borrowed time as the new administration has no plans to sweep any infractions under the carpet. The Minister for FCT and former governor of Rivers state, His Excellency Chief, Barrister Nyesom Wike who has been talking tough on recovering the Abuja Master plan will never tolerate the excesses of any official and will certainly take action as soon as he’s convinced of the indictment of the Perm Sec.