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Reform initiatives: OAGF to prioritise staff training
The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation is to give priority to continuous, requisite training and capacity building for its staff. This initiative is imperative if the Federal Treasury is to consolidate on the successes so far recorded in the implementation of the public financial reform initiatives.
The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris FCNA made this known in Abuja at the presentation of certificates to Treasury Officers that completed training courses with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on IPSAS implementation and other public financial management initiative.
In a statement by the Director of Information, Press and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike which was sent o CAPITAL POST on Tuesday, Idris confirmed that the best asset that any organisation can have is the human capital, noted that with adequate training, staff of the Federal Treasury would be able to contribute immensely to the realisation of set goals.
“In any organisation, the best asset you can identify, is always the human capital asset. We believe if we give capacity, if we train the staff, the staff will give their best towards actualising the dreams and objectives of the Treasury and the expectations of Government on us will be met without difficulty”, he said.
While congratulating the staff that successfully completed the training, the Accountant General of the Federation voiced the readiness of his office to partner with competent associations and institutions to provide quality training for Treasury Officers.
He tasked the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to understudy the public reform initiatives and come up with specific training packages that will be of benefit to Treasury Officers.
On the activities of the Treasury, Idris said his office has recorded successes in the implementation of the various public financial reform initiates, adding that there has also been massive infrastructural development at the Treasury House.
He noted that all these achievements would not have been possible without the collective effort of the staff of the Treasury. He commended the management and staff for their cooperation and hard work.
“We cannot achieve all these without the support and backing of the staff, the top management and the Directors. So I commend my Directors for giving us that latitude to achieve what we have been able to achieve. It is not a one man effort, it is a collective effort and we must give it to the Directors, management and the entire staff”, he said.
In his remarks, the Country Representative of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Mr. Tom Isibor acknowledged the robust public financial management initiatives as well as the massive infrastructural development at the Treasury House and commended the Accountant General of the Federation on the height the Treasury has attained under his leadership.
He noted that to successfully manage the country’s economy, especially in contemporary world, there is need for continuous training, adding that the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) will continue to work with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
Six Commissioners and a Local Government Council Chairman have been arrested on the order of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru over alleged breach of contracts.
The Chairman Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, was suspended from office with immediate effect.
Reports said, the Commissioners were accused of contractual breach in the ongoing construction of 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities, which were displaced by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The names of embattled Commissioners are: Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Moses Ekuma (Health), and Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring).
They were first declared wanted following their disappearance from the State Executive Committee meeting when the matter became known in the media, and the Ebonyi State immediately launched manhunt before they were eventually arrested.
Commenting on the development, Ilang Donatus, Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, stated that the action was taken due to the officials’ and contractors’ failure to adhere to contract terms.
Donatus noted that the officials are delaying the housing project, which Governor Nwifuru had planned to commission in celebration of his second anniversary in office.
Donatus emphasised the governor’s frustration over the slow pace of construction, noting that the housing initiative was designed to provide relief to victims of communal crises.
He was quoted as saying, “The governor is not happy over the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our governor is a man with a passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered to arrest of all the commissioners who are supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units.
Adding to the concerns, Mrs. Maria Okohu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization (Ebonyi Central) and a member of the Executive Council Committee, described the situation as an act of sabotage.
She stressed that failure to complete the housing project on schedule undermines the governor’s development agenda for the state.
In response, the state government has vowed to continue its crackdown, warning that further arrests will be made until all implicated commissioners and contractors are held accountable.
Reports also suggest that the Nigerian police have issued invitations to several officials who were not present during the committee’s enforcement visits.
Upon inquiry, Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, stated that he had no knowledge of the arrest or detention of the accused commissioners and the suspended council chairman.
When questioned about whether the Command had invited the officials following the governor’s directive, the police spokesperson responded, “We don’t have any commissioner in our custody. I’m not aware of any invitation and I have asked and I was told we don’t have any commissioner in custody. I will still ask about the invitation but for now, I don’t know anything of such.”
News
Ododo’s aide escapes assassination by whiskers, allege APC youth leader, Mohammed behind attempt
Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo’s Aide, Hon. Godfrey Adekoye, Senior Special Assistant on Youths Empowerment on Tuesday escaped an assassination attempt on his life by whiskers.
The aide of the Governor said the attack on his life happened at Lounge 1, a popular hospitality joint in Lokoja, added that the attackers followed him down to his house, unfortunately they met his absence.
In a statement he made available to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, the aide to the Governor accused the Kogi State APC Youth Leader, Hon. Mohammed U Mohammed and one Abubakar Nasara Ola as behind his attack.
He said during the attack on him, Abubakar threatened to kill him, pointed a gun at him before the intervention of onlookers who saved him by chance.
The attackers destroyed and broke the windscreen of his vehicle, that is now parked in the custody of the Quick Response Squad.
Speaking on the attack, Hon. Godfrey said he has since reported the matter to the Quick Response Squad, an arm of the Nigerian Police, in Lokoja, said his life is in danger.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ayah, said he was making efforts to confirm the attack on the aide, could not be reached as at time of going to press.
A popular General Overseer of a new generation Church, Elijah has been arrested by the Octopus (C41) Strike Force unit of Rivers State Police Command for investigation over homosexual allegations.
It was gathered that a video of the Pastor was leaked indulging in the homosexual act to the police by a member of his church.
The member who alleged that the General Overseer attempted sleep with him against his will.
The member who revealed his name simply as Patrick now a complainant said, he wanted to play along after the General Overseer made sexual advancement and captured the nude video of pastor attempting to have carnal knowledge of him.
Armed with the intelligence report, the police traced the General Overseer who is from Rivers State to one of his relaxation spots in Port Harcourt and arrested him.
Sources revealed to our correspondent that the General Overseer has reportedly confessed to other numerous acts of homosexuality involving both male adults and minors within and outside Port Harcourt.
Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.
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