Mohammed Shosanya

The House of Representatives,has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mass retirement of 1,000 staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The decision was sequel to deliberations on a motion presented during plenary, highlighting concerns over the abrupt disengagement of the employees and the implications for both the affected staff and the nation’s apex bank.

The House resolved to address concerns following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Mr. Kama Nkemkama,the member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.

During the session,it was gathered that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is preparing to retire approximately 1,000 employees as part of its ongoing strategic workforce realignment.

The development has raised questions about its potential impact on the affected staff and the nation’s financial sector.

The motion seeks to ensure a thorough review of the situation and explore measures to safeguard the welfare of the employees while maintaining the bank’s operational efficiency.

The House has urged the committee to  investigate the retirement of over 1,000 staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the associated N50 billion payoff scheme.

Speaking on the motion titled, “Need to Investigate the Retirement of Over 1,000 Staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Associated N50bn Payoff Scheme,” Hon. Nkemkama called on his colleagues to rise to the occasion and demonstrate adequate interest in the matter.

He emphasized the need for the House to probe the CBN’s announcement of the N50 billion payoff scheme, which the apex bank described as part of its human resource reorganisation strategy.

According to him,the situation demands closer scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

He expressed concern over the “sudden mass retirement of more than 1,000 staff, including directors and senior management,” describing it as a troubling development.

According to him, the situation “raises serious questions about the selection criteria, the transparency of the process, and compliance with public service guidelines and labor laws.”

Nkemkama,a member of the Labour Party, has raised concerns about the socio-economic fallout from the disengagement of staff members. He emphasized that this development “has far-reaching implications for the affected individuals, their dependents, and the broader economy. It could exacerbate unemployment and heighten public dissatisfaction.”

Nkemkama faulted the N50 billion payoff scheme, warning that it might lack adequate accountability and oversight. “Without robust mechanisms to ensure transparency, there is a significant risk of mismanagement and misuse of public funds in a sector that is critical to Nigeria’s financial stability,” he stated.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to “Investigate the mass retirement of over 1,000 staff of the CBN to ascertain the criteria, process, and legality of the exercise.

The House also resolved to “Examine the N50bn payoff scheme to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper utilisation of funds.”

The House also resolved to engage the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to assess the economic and institutional implications of the recent mass retirement exercise in the nation’s financial sector.

Besides,the House urged the apex bank to suspend the ongoing retirement exercise and its accompanying payoff scheme until the conclusion of an investigation by the House.

The House also called on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure the rights of the affected staff are safeguarded, in line with Nigeria’s labour laws.

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu has disclosed that 70 percent of Nigerians resisted bribe requests in 2023.

He spoke on Monday during an ICPC roundtable with state attorneys-general in the north-west region, held in Kano.

Aliyu,who highlighted findings from the 2023 Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),noted the commonness of bribery in the north-west and across the country.

He added:“Bribery is most common in public utilities, law enforcement, and administrative services.However, despite these challenges, the positive news is that 70 percent of Nigerians approached for a bribe in 2023 refused to comply on at least one occasion.

“In the north-west,76 percent of individuals who encountered bribery requests resisted—the highest refusal rate among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, indicating growing resistance to bribery in the region.”

He emphasized the shared responsibility of state and federal governments in combating corruption, stressing the importance of collaboration to build accountable and transparent systems.

He said:“In this regard, I call on the attorneys-general of the north-west to collaborate closely with ICPC to fortify systems of accountability and transparency that serve the people.

“Under section 6 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act, ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute corruption across all sectors of public service, but your support and the local knowledge you bring are essential to making this effort more effective.”

He urged continuous encouragement of citizens in the north-west to resist bribery demands and reiterated the ICPC’s commitment to using its authority to combat corruption effectively.

“As chairman of the ICPC, I am committed to ensuring that the commission uses its law enforcement powers and preventive measures, which include enlisting and fostering public support in combating corruption in Nigeria within the confines of the law,” he said.

       Mohammed Shosanya

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, and his predecessor, Emeka Ezeh, have advised against amending the Public Procurement Act to include punitive measures for erring contractors.

They said that such provisions are typically embedded in contractual agreements.

At a session with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, Dr. Adedokun explained that the Public Procurement Act of 2007 was designed to harmonize existing government policies and practices, while regulating and setting standards for public procurement.

According to him,the law promotes competition, transparency, and accountability in the procurement process.

He maintained that the Act already provides a robust legal framework, and that issues related to contractor misconduct are adequately addressed within the terms of individual contracts.

He added: “The proposed amendment aims to impose sanctions on contractors who fail to complete projects within the stipulated timeframe. Such sanctions are typically embedded in the conditions of a contract on a global scale and are beyond the scope of the Public Procurement Act (PPA).

“It is important to note that the PPA does not oversee the implementation phase of contracts. Instead, this is governed by the standard conditions of the contract and the contract agreement, which regulate all matters arising after a contract has been validly awarded.

“In this regard,the clauses within the contract agreement that outline sanctions for contractors, as specified in the Bureau’s Standard Bidding Documents, are sufficient. Therefore, the proposal to incorporate contract implementation procedures into the Public Procurement Act would be excessive and counterproductive, undermining the original purpose of the Act.

“As the regulatory authority,the Bureau, empowered by the Act,has already issued Standard Bidding Documents and Standard Conditions of Contract that meet global standards and include penalties for contractors who fail to comply.

“The Bureau recommends that the Committee focus on ensuring the proper implementation and enforcement of existing laws, rather than pursuing amendments that do not address the core issue. Specifically, the Bureau emphasizes that the timely release of funds for awarded contracts is critical for the successful completion of projects. Delays in funding from the procuring entity ultimately lead to delays in project completion, making the procuring entity responsible for any setbacks.

“Given these considerations,the Bureau respectfully urges the Committee to reconsider the proposed amendment. We also seek the support of Parliament to prioritize the effective implementation of the Public Procurement Act, as this will significantly enhance the efficiency and integrity of the public procurement process in Nigeria.”

The immediate past Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh, expressed concerns over the proposed amendment,suggesting that while it may appear noble and well-meaning at first glance, it seems to focus more on addressing the symptoms rather than the root causes of the challenges in Nigeria’s contracting environment.

He recommended that the issue should be examined from a more comprehensive perspective.

He emphasized the import of addressing the entire process,from needs assessment and project design to proper budgeting, contractor selection, and,ultimately, effective contract execution and project implementation.

Mohammed Shosanya

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN),has told  the International Criminal Court to stop probe of the Nigerian military by the office of the prosecutor at the ICC.

He said Nigeria has demonstrated the will to promote justice and end terrorism among other global crimes.

He stated Nigeria’s position in his statement at the 23rd Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) holding between December 2 and 7 at The Hague, Netherlands.

Expressing the country’s commitment to confronting impunity, holding perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable, and restoring justice for victims,Fagbemi noted that the preliminary examination into alleged crimes in Nigeria had lasted 14 years and was demoralizing to the service men laying their lives to defend their country against terrorists.

He emphasized that Nigeria as a responsible  party to the Rome Statute has consistently engaged with the Office of the Prosecutor and demonstrated its military’s adherence to international humanitarian law and ensuring accountability for any personnel found guilty of misconduct.

“While we respect the court’s mandate to intervene when states are unable or unwilling to prosecute such crimes, it is important to emphasize that there must be respect and regard to the principle of complementarity.

“The ICC is meant to act as a court of last resort, intervening only when national legal systems are unable or unwilling to address grave crimes.

“I must assert that Nigeria does not fall under any such situation. Our nation has consistently demonstrated both the will and the capacity to investigate and prosecute serious crimes, including those committed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

“We are proud of the Nigerian Military, which has systems and structures in place to ensure their operations are guided by international humanitarian law and human rights principles” the AGF stated.

He added that:”At the 22nd Session of this Assembly, Nigeria reported the establishment of an independent Special Investigative Panel by the National Human Rights Commission to address allegations against the Nigerian military made by Reuters. After thorough investigations spanning eight months, the Panel found no evidence to substantiate these claims. The allegations of killings, torture, and the recruitment of underage fighters have been proven to be false and exaggerated.

“Indeed, the work of the Panel and acceptance of its recommendations by the government clearly indicates that Nigeria has the political will to investigate allegations of heinous crimes and hold violators accountable.

“The conduct of military operations during conflict is regulated by international humanitarian law, and we can assure this Assembly that the Nigerian military does not engage in arbitrary killings or inhumane treatment of those no longer directly participating in hostilities. Our Military ensures that captured combatants are treated with dignity and respect. While inadvertent mistakes or errors of judgment may occur in the chaos of conflict, these are promptly investigated by impartial commissions and panels.

“I wish to state that Nigeria has a well-established and functional court martial system for holding erring officers accountable. We also employ restorative justice measures, including compensation, when appropriate” Fagbemi said.

Kamarudeen Ogundele,Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity,Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, who signed the statement,said in addition,Nigeria’s six-month Demobilization,Deradicalization, and Reintegration (DDR) program has successfully reintegrated 4,000 former Boko Haram combatants into society.

He added:”We continue to prioritize the training and re-training of our armed forces, ensuring that human rights and international humanitarian law remain at the forefront of our military operations, with a focus on protection of civilian protection.”