Following the compulsory retirement of 17 permanent secretaries, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has traced the sum of N292m to the account of one of the civil servants who was fired on Tuesday, November 10.
New permanent secretaries taking oath of office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja
According to The Punch, ICPC made the discovery during discreet investigations into the five months of permanent secretaries who presided over ministries in the absence of ministers.
The commission was said to have started the probe into the permanent secretaries’ reign shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari submitted the ministerial list to the Senate.
Investigators became curious upon discovery that the account of one of the retired permanent secretaries swelled up to N292m in the last five months.
ICPC’s investigations are not limited to the permanent secretaries that were fired but also those who have served in the past five months and those still in service.
A source in the ICPC, who spoke to The Punch, said: “It is true that the ICPC is probing the activities of the permanent secretaries. About N292m was traced to the account of one of the recently retired permanent secretaries.
The commission has concluded investigating some of the permanent secretaries while others are still being investigated. For those that we have concluded investigations on them, we have sent their files to relevant places for action.”
However President Buhari on Thursday, November 12, warned civil servants at all levels that his administration would not accept any act of indiscipline and corrupt practices.
The president also justified his administration’s decision to drop the previous practice of administering written and oral examinations on civil servants for ascension to the rank of permanent secretaries.
President Buhari also noted that the responsibilities placed on the permanent secretaries were huge and that the success or otherwise of the government would depend on their competence, ability and capacity to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
He added that his administration would give all the necessary support, protection and encouragement to the civil service to discharge its duties.
In a related development five of the 17 federal permanent secretaries who were fired by President Muhammadu Buhari are set to be investigated after reports surfaced that they were involved in corruption.
One of the suspects has already been quizzed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) while another is suspected to have used public fund to purchase expensive vehicles and engage in foreign trips. Two others were suspected to have received bribes.
Source: Naij.com
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