After a week of total strike and street protests by millions of
Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan has for once succumbed to the popular
demand for a thorough probe Of subsidy payments in the oil sector as he has
directed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigate
with immediate effect all payments made in respect of subsidy on petroleum
products and to take necessary steps to prosecute any incidence of malfeasance,
fraud, over-invoicing and related illegalities in an open and transparent
manner.
A statement signed by the Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke,and released to the media this
evening said this is in clear response to the demands of Nigerians for better
accountability and transparency in the oil industry which is in tandem with
President Jonathan’s agenda.
In a letter dated January 12th and
addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, and which was received by the
Commission on the 13th, the Minister said, “to now deepen my reforms and ensure
that we root out all forms of corruption and abuse within the subsidy regime, I
have sought and obtained the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to
formally invite the EFCC to immediately review and investigate all
payments made in respect of subsides checked against actual importations and to
take all necessary steps to prosecute any person(s) involved in any
incidence of malfeasance, fraud, over-payments and related illegalities.
incidence of malfeasance, fraud, over-payments and related illegalities.
“Please be assured of the full cooperation
of my office with this investigation, as I have directed all officials of PPPRA
and related agencies in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to make themselves
available in the event of any interviews”.
The minister further said a unit has been
set up in the Petroleum Resources Ministry to be headed by an independent
auditor to review the KPMG and other audit reports on NNPC and other
Parastatals, and immediately begin implementation of their findings, ensuring,
at all times, full probity and value for money.
She also hinted that another unit is being put
together in the ministry to begin comprehensive review of the management and
controls within all Parastatals in the Ministry, including but not limited to
NNPC, PPPRA, and DPR.
“Accordingly, I expect a report in 30 days
to enable us take further action in reforming management, personnel, and other
practices and procedures in Parastatals within the Ministry. It should be noted
however that this process has already begun in PPPRA, and DPR where management
changes and reform are beginning to yield desirable results”, Madueke said.
“I will like to assure the people of
Nigeria that all hands are on deck to ensure full probity and accountability in
the oil industry. Having spent the last 18 months painstakingly reviewing its
operations and designing a vision for the future, it is now time to deliver”,
she added.
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