By JOHN SHIKLAM

The federal government has commenced the payment of outstanding allowances to 9,066 participants of the batches A and B of the 2016 and 2018 N-Power programmes.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mr. Bashir Alkali.

The statement said the federal government had in March 2020, flagged the accounts of 14,021 volunteers on the Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), due to a number of anomalies that were observed.

According to Alkali, the beneficiaries had multiple accounts, receiving other payments such as salaries and allowances from multiple federal government ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) on permanent employment or participating in other schemes.

He said: “These acts violate the regulations guiding the N-Power volunteer programme and could amount to gross misconduct and corruption.”

The statement said the ministry carried out detailed investigation in collaboration with relevant government MDAs, disclosing that so far, the accounts of 9,066 volunteers were cleared for final payment.

“Based on this reality, the five months allowance arrears of these volunteers, totalling N150,000.00 each, is currently being paid.

“The allowances of the remaining 4,955 are withheld pending conclusion of further investigation.

“Where clear violations of the agreements are established, such violators will be subjected to appropriate sanctions as stipulated by the law,” he said.

Alkali maintained that “contrary to some insinuations in the public domain, this process is a clear demonstration of the ministry’s resolve to address the unfortunate incident in a transparent manner for accountability and to forestall its future occurrence”.

He said the investigation caried out by the ministry is in the best interest of the country, adding that it is aimed at institutionalising the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as well as “its efficient management in line with Mr President’s resolve to ensure transparency and accountability in its implementation at all times”.

The statement expressed regrets over the delays experienced in concluding the process, stressing however that transparency and accountability cannot be compromised in all its activities. (THISDAY)

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