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Politics: The keep N50bn NNPC order, is there another Nigerian President except President Buhari?

President Muhammadu Buhari with Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha (left), and Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari (right), at the Presidential Villa

There have been many times officials of this government show a sign that there is another powerful man directing the country.

The emergence of an ‘Executive Order’ directing Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to exempt some of its accounts from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the Chief of Staff (COS) to President, Mr Abba Kyari, raised the question of if there is another president in Nigeria. This is because the order negates a well known government position as regards its revenue.

This disclosure was made by the House of Representatives' ad-hoc committee probing remittances into the TSA.  And the “purported” presidential approval was also confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A senior official of the CBN, Mr Dipo Fatokun told the committee that indeed the NNPC wrote the apex bank informing it of the exemptions.

“The banks are actually holding some accounts. We are aware. It’s not yet a case of 100 percent transfers to the TSA,” Fatokun explained.

 

“We are compiling a report on each of the banks and it will be ready soon."

Also Read: Powerful and untouchable people in Buhari’s government

The Treasury Single Account (TSA) is a centralised Federal Government revenue account kept by the CBN. This centralised revenue pool is run through an electronic platform, Remita, which was built by a Nigerian firm, SystemSpecs.

There seem to be problem with the ‘purported presidential order’

The committee chair, Mr Abubakar Danburam-Nuhu expressed his surprise at the discovery. This is as it is a clear contraction of an existing presidential order.

Danburam-Nuhu said that:“…banks are still holding accounts with funds up to N50bn outside the TSA. The banks claim that there is an approval by the President for the accounts to operate outside the TSA. These are NNPC’s accounts and the corporation must produce evidence of the presidential approval.”

When the memo was presented, the committee member adjudged it “not convincing”, and it was rejected. It stated that the memo didn’t say much other than opening with the line, “I have been directed.”

A member of the committee, Mr Edward Pwajok (SAN) also reiterate the need to summon Mr Kyari, as the exemptions seem not convincing enough.

“Let him come here to show us the evidence of the directive given to him by Mr President,” Pwajok said.

Also Read: How Nigerians react to President Buhari’s sacking of SGF and DG, NIA

Why must it be Mr Abba Kyari again?

In the current administration, every corruption-related issues have a link to Mr Kyari.

From the N500 million MTN gifts, NNPC contract issue and Kachikwu sage and recent Mainagate show Mr Kyari is not an ordinarily COS. To many, he is popularly remarked as the face of the power and inner cabal of President Buhari.

He also attempted relegating position of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to coordinator while the President was proceeding on his medical leave. In the letter sent to the National Assembly, there was no mention of transfer of power to Osinbajo and a coordinating role assigned to him.



from pulse.ng - Nigeria's entertainment & lifestyle platform online

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