News
Senate queries DPR on remittance
Officials of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) were on Friday queried by the Senate on Friday for remitting only N44. 5 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2019 out of N2.4 trillion generated.
This is as heads of many of the other revenue generating agencies invited by the Senate’s Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning for Interactive Sessions on their 2021 revenues projections, refused to appear.
Sen. Solomon Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, queried the remittance when the joint committee demanded for records of the agency’s internally generated revenues in 2019 and projections for 2021.
“Information and records presented to us by both directors or heads of departments that have spoken are not clear and insufficient as regards budget performance of DPR within the last three years and revenue projection for 2021.
“For this committee to do proper and thorough job, comprehensive records of such budget performances must be made available latest by Monday upon which your director and other top management staff will appear before us again on Tuesday.
“Also, well detailed proposals for revenues generation by the agency for 2021-2022 must be included in the expected comprehensive records,” Adeola said.
Earlier, Head of Planning of the agency , Mr Johnson Ajewole, who first spoke in the absence of the Director, Mr Sarki Auwalu, said that N2.4 trillion was generated by DPR in 2019 but N44.5 billion was remitted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Efforts made by the Head of Finance and Accounts of the Petroleum agency, Mrs Lilian Ufondu to explain the wide gap in revenues and remittance, further angered the committee members.
According to her, out of the N2.4 trillion generated by DPR in 2019 N88 billion was removed as four per cent collection fee out of which N5.72 billion was also remitted while the balance was used for over head .
Persistent questions to her by the committee chairman and members on what happened to the more than N2 trillion balance were not satisfactorily answered as she was only able to mention overhead and operational costs without specific figures tied to them.
She added that as at July this year, DPR had generated N1.13 trillion and projecting N3.4 trillion as revenues generation for 2021 out which N139 billion would be taken out as four per cent collection fee .
Like DPR , heads of other agencies such as Nigeria Inland Waterways !NIWA), Bank of Industries (BOI) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), were also not present for the interactive session and were accordingly ordered by the committee to reappear on Monday.(NAN)
Investigations by Nigerian Concord Newspaper reveal that the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah, has allegedly misappropriated public funds for a lavish lifestyle.
According to our findings, within months of assuming office, Akutah allegedly purchased a bulletproof SUV valued at approximately N850 million. In addition, he is reported to have acquired over twenty exotic SUVs for use as a convoy.
Akutah is also said to have acquired multiple high-value properties, including three in Abuja’s Maitama and Asokoro districts worth over N2 billion, and two in Lagos’ Banana Island valued at N1.8 billion. These acquisitions appear far beyond the scope of his official salary and allowances.
Further investigation suggests that Akutah may be using public funds to support political ambitions, including allegedly grooming militants across 23 local government areas in Benue State for a potential 2027 gubernatorial bid.
Staff of the Shippers Council reportedly claim that Akutah frequently accesses the council’s treasury without proper authorization. Some insiders have indicated that a petition will soon be filed with the EFCC, ICPC, and the Presidency to report his alleged misconduct.
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Investigations by Nigerian Concord Newspaper reveal that the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah, has allegedly misappropriated public funds for a lavish lifestyle.
According to our findings, within months of assuming office, Akutah allegedly purchased a bulletproof SUV valued at approximately N850 million. In addition, he is reported to have acquired over twenty exotic SUVs for use as a convoy.
Akutah is also said to have acquired multiple high-value properties, including three in Abuja’s Maitama and Asokoro districts worth over N2 billion, and two in Lagos’ Banana Island valued at N1.8 billion. These acquisitions appear far beyond the scope of his official salary and allowances.
Further investigation suggests that Akutah may be using public funds to support political ambitions, including allegedly grooming militants across 23 local government areas in Benue State for a potential 2027 gubernatorial bid.
Staff of the Shippers Council reportedly claim that Akutah frequently accesses the council’s treasury without proper authorization. Some insiders have indicated that a petition will soon be filed with the EFCC, ICPC, and the Presidency to report his alleged misconduct.
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I am writing to felicitate with Your Excellency, Atku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice-President of Nigeria (Zege Mule u Tiv & Wazirin Adamawa)
on the occasion of your 79th birthday anniversary.
I join your teeming admirers globally in celebrating you on this special day, an adorable Statesman and my Boss.
I recall with nostalgia, how countless generations have benefited from your generosity, wealth of experience and benevolence including being my key benefactor even as a young lawyer for my professional success.
Your Excellency, may your special day be filled with grandeur befitting your illustrious career.
I wish you continued success, prosperity, and an unending stream of accolades.
It takes a remarkable kind of fortitude to remain active in public life well into one’s golden years. Your dedication and patriotism remain truly exceptional.
May you enjoy a day of reflection on your many years of fruitful service to humanity. It is my prayer that God Almighty grants you many more healthy, fruitful, and fulfilling years ahead, and continues to endow you with wisdom, strength, and the grace to keep contributing to our nation-building.
Happy Birthday, Your Excellency.
Michael Kaase Aondoakaa SAN.
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
TAU reaffirms commitment to globally competitive learning
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