SERAP asks Buhari, Sylva to explain how petroleum ministry spent N116m on pens, others

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to use their leadership positions “to urgently probe how N116 million was spent by your Ministry to buy biros, letterhead and toners in 2015, and to disclose the amount spent on the same items between 2016 and 2020, and if there is evidence of misuse of public funds, refer the matter to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for prosecution.”

The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation had last Thursday before the Senate Public Accounts Committee revealed that officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources spent N116m to buy biros, letterhead and toners in one year, and alleged “contravention of the Public Procurement Act 2017 by the Permanent Secretary.”

In the letter dated 12 December 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the UN Convention against Corruption and African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption require the government to ensure that Nigeria’s resources are used effectively and efficiently, and in a manner consistent with the public interest.”

SERAP said: “An effective and efficient ministry ought to keep careful track of how it spends public money, and put in place a system to eliminate corruption, mismanagement, unnecessary, inefficient, or unreasonable expenditures.”

According to SERAP: “Transparency and openness in the spending by your Ministry would ensure the public trust, efficient, effective and competent delivery of public goods and services. Openness in the spending by your Ministry will also strengthen the country’s democracy and promote efficiency and integrity in government.”

The letter copied to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, read in part: “Any allegations of misuse of public funds may constitute serious misconduct that impairs the efficiency of your Ministry, and undermines public confidence in the ability of ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs] to provide essential public goods and services to Nigerians.”

“SERAP is concerned that the allegations by the Office of the Auditor-General raises serious violations of anti-corruption legislation, the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption standards.”

“Public officials and MDAs should act and take decisions on the spending of public funds in an open, transparent and accountable manner, and submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.”

“A democratic government accountable to the people must be as transparent as possible and must not withhold information for self-serving reasons or simply to avoid embarrassment.”

“We would therefore be grateful if you would indicate the measures being taken to probe the spending of N116m on biros, letterhead and toners in 2015, and disclose the total amount spent on the same items between 2016 and 2020 within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”

“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your Ministry to implement these recommendations in the interest of transparency and accountability.”

“The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has a legal obligation to conduct an effective investigation into any allegations of breach of anti-corruption legislation and international standards, including those relating to the spending by the Ministry on biros, letterhead and toners between 2015 and 2020.”

“Our requests are consistent with the government’s repeated promise of transparency, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, national anti-corruption legislation, Freedom of Information Act, and Nigeria’s international obligations, including under the UN Convention against Corruption, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.”

“According to our information, the 2015 report of the Auditor General for the Federation shows that officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources spent N116m to buy biros, letterhead and toners in one year.”

“The breakdown of the expenditure showed that the ministry spent N14.5m to purchase Schneider biros, N46m to print the ministry’s letterhead and N56m to procure toner for its photocopy machines.”

“According to the Office of the Auditor-General, ‘the contract for the supply of Schneider biros worth N14.5m was split into smaller packages of less than N5m each and was awarded to four different companies in order to circumvent the permanent secretary’s approval threshold of N5m.’”

“’The contract for the printing of the ministry’s letterhead worth N46m was also split and awarded to 11 different contractors. The contract for the supply of toners worth N56m was split and awarded to seven different contractors.’”

“The Office of the Auditor-General has also reportedly told the Senate Public Accounts Committee that the permanent secretary has failed and/or refused to “explain this contravention of the Public Procurement Act 2007.”

http://serap-nigeria.org/2020/12/13/serap-asks-buhari-sylva-to-explain-how-petroleum-ministry-spent-n116m-on-pens-others/

116m on biro ?? C'mon, the guy is a saint, he can't do that. Maybe they bought eraser, sharpener and HB pencil too. You know those things used to be very expensive in 2015.

I BELONG TO EVERY BODY AND I BELONG TO NOBODY..
Is one of the greatest scam of the century.
The scam is so bad that it rendered so many people Perpetual ZOMBIES.

And some idiots are still blaming white people for Africa underdevelopment

Shey nah white man do this one now?

In Search for a solution Nigerians went to usher in a pandemonium Problem

Mr Intergity Indeed

Buhari that some people worship as a man of integrity


To me he is the biggest scam in my lifetime

He scammed over 200 million people and some people are still under his spell

When I see someone tried to prove that Buhari is the best for nigeria, I automatically deduce such fellow has a very low IQ and naturally wicked at heart

Shame on this administration

I pray they won't go unpunished. God is bigger than them all

How can u tell me to spend 2500-6000 naira between lagos and Ibadan. We were told train(railway) is the cheapest means of transportation but Buhari government has redefine it

Very wicked set of people

Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright

Sooo pathetic

Nigeria Jaga jaga

So Ministry of petroleum don turn to Ministry of biros and erasers.

This country matter big pass Zuma rock

You guys sef

Have you considered the cost of transport to get the pens?
Do you know how much one pen cost?
Do you think it’s easy to purchase a pen?
Do you know how many times they write a day and how many pens they need?

Corrupt leaders.... Oga o

Wahala be like biro

Sebi na this one we see. In other parts of the same government, people are using #15bn to plant mango n pawpaw.

But they kip ensuring masses are more impoverished on a daily basis.

Haaa,they can not explain again because they bought pencil and eraser to clean it too.

From Buhari down to LGA Chairman in this APC led government are thieves. Hardened criminals who pretend to be Saints. These evil men have looted this country dry.

Thank God buhari is the minister of petroleum.
So, this question is for him directly.

If senate can't invite buhari is it serap that can?

Nonso92:
116m on biro ?? C'mon, the guy is a saint, he can't do that. Maybe they bought eraser, sharpener and HB pencil too. You know those things used to be very expensive in 2015.

You are very correct brother.

Embezzling millions and common man can not afford 3 square meal

Just when you think you've heard the worst in Nigeria.....

In the same country that is termed the capital of poverty!


In the same country that States cannot pay minimum wage

In the same country where our educational system has decayed.

N116m for Biro?
We're finished

If you say you're disappointed in this government, I pity you for believing in them at first.

This is pathetic �

I am pighting kwarruption

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SERAP wants the new Ag. Director to start his fainting lessons from pondei.....

Just lol.. Is SERAP mocking the Country or just want us to laugh. General that turned down National Assembly's invitation would explain to common SERAP.. So funny