THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has launched a formal investigation against the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Binyerem Ukaire, who allegedly withheld essential payment files for agencies under her purview.
Premium Times reported that the funds were said to have been withheld, despite being approved by President Bola Tinubu to support the operations of several key agencies, including Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); Voice of Nigeria (VON); News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); National Orientation Agency (NOA); and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
It was gathered that Ukaire refused to process the payments because the heads of these agencies allegedly declined her request to make detailed presentations regarding their ongoing projects and financial utilisation, insisting it was inconsistent with established civil service practices.
A circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) explicitly directed supervising ministries to refrain from interfering in the finances of their parastatals, which are primarily accountable to their boards and ministers.
Premium Times reported that ICPC, in response to the growing concerns, interrogated Ukaire and the affected agency heads to determine the rationale behind the obstruction of these funds.
While the investigation is ongoing, sources confirmed that neither the permanent secretary nor the agency heads were detained, following the questioning.
It was further gathered that the permanent secretary has since approved the payment files and transmitted them for disbursement.
When contacted on Saturday, July 25, heads of the affected agencies confirmed that the files have been forwarded and were awaiting the final release of funds to their respective accounts.
