FG confirms arrest by ICPC for embezzlement of N-Power fund
The Federal Government on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of some Nigerians allegedly linked to the embezzlement of the N-Power fund.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who gave the hint during a press briefing on the update of N -Power, held in Abuja, assured that the culprits identified by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) will soon be brought before the Court.
Dr. Sani-Gwarzo, who described the N-Power program as a very successful component of the national social investment program put in place by the federal government, reiterated the ministry's determination to ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of the program.
He observed that "this is a positive step taken by the department to ensure there is no disruption to the program and to ensure that everyone is on the bridge to ensure that anyone attempting to breach the system is apprehended.
“I am happy to say that the ICPC has done a commendable job, they have helped us identify some of the culprits and they are investigating and will soon bring them to justice.
"I received the CPIC progress report today and we are working with them and they have assured us that they have isolated and reduced all irregularities and therefore the program should continue without interruption," he noted.
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He maintained that the ministry has “continued to deliver the desired impact by integrating 1.5 million unemployed Nigerian youths (mostly graduates), building capacity, targeting permanent jobs and channeling them into diverse career paths; thus serving as a catalyst for unemployed/underemployed young Nigerians towards successful career paths and a boost to the Nigerian economy.
"The Department's attention has been drawn to recent publications regarding ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud in the program.
“We wish to state here the following, that the ministry has rolled out a comprehensive mechanism for selecting eligible beneficiaries across the country and this has been in place since the start of the program.
"In collaboration with our service provider, program beneficiaries are onboarded, trained and deployed to pre-selected primary duty stations.
"When we learned that some Payment Service Provider (PSP) staff involved in beneficiary payment processes may have engaged in malicious practices, the matter was immediately escalated to the ICPC for investigation. thorough investigation.
"We are aware that some people have therefore been asked to be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigations.
"In the meantime, we have carried out a thorough hardening of our systems in order to eliminate all anomalies and prevent similar events from happening again in the future.
"To this end, we are working closely with the ICPC to support the successful determination of the investigation.
"The public may wish to note that, in an effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of N-Power and other national social investment programs, namely the National Home Grown School Feeding (NHGSFP), Public Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP) and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), the ministry has over time involved other government MDAs, security agencies and civil society organizations in monitoring and compliance checks in all 36 states across the country and the FCT.
"We want to assure all N-Power recipients of the Federal Government's continued commitment to the program and subsequent exit/onboarding channels enabled.
“All beneficiaries of the program should therefore continue to apply to the maximum at their main duty station. All monthly allowances will continue to be paid in accordance with program expectations.
“We call on members of the public to provide information on any irregularities found in the implementation of the national social investment program through the following channels,” he urged.
The Federal Government on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of some Nigerians allegedly linked to the embezzlement of the N-Power fund.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who gave the hint during a press briefing on the update of N -Power, held in Abuja, assured that the culprits identified by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) will soon be brought before the Court.
Dr. Sani-Gwarzo, who described the N-Power program as a very successful component of the national social investment program put in place by the federal government, reiterated the ministry's determination to ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of the program.
He observed that "this is a positive step taken by the department to ensure there is no disruption to the program and to ensure that everyone is on the bridge to ensure that anyone attempting to breach the system is apprehended.
“I am happy to say that the ICPC has done a commendable job, they have helped us identify some of the culprits and they are investigating and will soon bring them to justice.
"I received the CPIC progress report today and we are working with them and they have assured us that they have isolated and reduced all irregularities and therefore the program should continue without interruption," he noted.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
He maintained that the ministry has “continued to deliver the desired impact by integrating 1.5 million unemployed Nigerian youths (mostly graduates), building capacity, targeting permanent jobs and channeling them into diverse career paths; thus serving as a catalyst for unemployed/underemployed young Nigerians towards successful career paths and a boost to the Nigerian economy.
"The Department's attention has been drawn to recent publications regarding ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud in the program.
“We wish to state here the following, that the ministry has rolled out a comprehensive mechanism for selecting eligible beneficiaries across the country and this has been in place since the start of the program.
"In collaboration with our service provider, program beneficiaries are onboarded, trained and deployed to pre-selected primary duty stations.
"When we learned that some Payment Service Provider (PSP) staff involved in beneficiary payment processes may have engaged in malicious practices, the matter was immediately escalated to the ICPC for investigation. thorough investigation.
"We are aware that some people have therefore been asked to be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigations.
"In the meantime, we have carried out a thorough hardening of our systems in order to eliminate all anomalies and prevent similar events from happening again in the future.
"To this end, we are working closely with the ICPC to support the successful determination of the investigation.
"The public may wish to note that, in an effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of N-Power and other national social investment programs, namely the National Home Grown School Feeding (NHGSFP), Public Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP) and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), the ministry has over time involved other government MDAs, security agencies and civil society organizations in monitoring and compliance checks in all 36 states across the country and the FCT.
"We want to assure all N-Power recipients of the Federal Government's continued commitment to the program and subsequent exit/onboarding channels enabled.
“All beneficiaries of the program should therefore continue to apply to the maximum at their main duty station. All monthly allowances will continue to be paid in accordance with program expectations.
“We call on members of the public to provide information on any irregularities found in the implementation of the national social investment program through the following channels,” he urged.
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