The Senate petitions the Executive for 1% of VAT to aid reconstruction following EndSARS destruction. Elsewhere, we continue with investigations into Fashola, who keeps digging his hole. Travelling to the US remains unchanged.
₦4.6 billion
Last week, we correlated PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation of the Ministry of Works and Housing illegal payments of ₦4.6bn into private accounts with vague transactions by MDAs on the open treasury portal. Responding to these claims, Babatunde Fashola called it a witch hunt, and then hung himself on the proverbial witch pole.
Rather than denying these allegations, Fashola accused other ministries of these same crimes; as if to question why the investigation singled him out. He added that said payments were for officials not on the government’s IPPIS. This, however, contravenes Chapter 7, Section 713 of the Financial Regulation for Civil Service. The stipulation mandates such agencies use the Integrated Payment Platform and Information System, and not private accounts. He also failed to provide the details for these beneficiaries and the reasons they were absent from the IPPIS.
₦500 Billion
Still on the Ministry of Works and Housing, Fashola disclosed they need a minimum of ₦500 billion annually for the next three years to complete 711 projects on road infrastructure in the country. This according to Fashola was part of the government’s plan to complete abandoned projects from previous governments spanning over a decade. During an interactive session with newsmen, the minister further hinted at plans to construct 35, 000 kilometres of road networks, of which they’d begun work on 13, 000 km.
1% VAT
As for your coverage on EndSARS, the Senate is reportedly requesting for 1% of Value-Added Task (VAT) from the Federal Government (FG) to help rebuild damaged properties. The Red Chamber made this request yesterday, further suggesting that the Executive set up a visitation panel that would assess damages in states from demonstrations in October. Senators Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti) and Gershom Bassey (PDP, Cross River) championed these motions, while lamenting on the spate of destruction from said protests.
₦148 Billion
Meanwhile, the Senate agreed to reimburse Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Osun and Ondo with ₦148,141,969,161.24 yesterday. This followed a request from President Buhari, who disclosed said states executed road projects on behalf of FG. And per Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP – Edo Central), the projects were up to standard; and certified by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He, however, noted that the beneficiaries started their highway projects as far back as 2005. Nonetheless, the Federal Bureau of Procurement gave the process a node, noting they followed “due process”, he added.
$15,000 bond
In other news, Nigerians need not pay bonds worth $15,000 to visit loved ones in the States. Earlier, the outgoing administration of President Trump debuted a pilot programme which stipulated foreign nationals post refundable bonds ranging from $5000 to $15,000 before obtaining a visa to the USA. These stipulations mostly affected African countries, as records showed an increased likelihood of these visitors to overstay. The said bonds are poised to prevent this. Running from December 24 to June 24, the programme affects 15 African nations, 24 in all.