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Bala Usman says no money was missing in NPA during her tenure
THE former Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has said that contrary to accusations by the former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, no money was missing from the NPA during her tenure.
In her newly released memoir entitled “Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority,” Bala Usman revealed that at the end of the eight-month investigation by the panel set up to investigate her management by the minister, the agency was found to have remitted more than the alleged non-remittance.
Bala Usman was suspended from office in May 2021 upon allegation that the agency failed to remit about N165 billion in operating surpluses into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account of the federation. President Muhammadu Buhari approved Amaechi’s request for the probe of the former MD’s management of NPA’s accounts. He thereafter set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of the NPA, including awards of contracts from 2016 to May 2021. He also asked the panel to “examine and investigate compliance with communication channels as obtained in the public service.” `The investigation, which lasted for about nine months, returned without proof of non-remittance, although Bala Usman was nevertheless relieved of her position and replaced with Mohammed Bello-Koko, who served as her Executive Director, Finance and Administration. This was after the conclusion of the administrative panel’s duties in February 2022.
But in her memoir released on Tuesday, Bala Usman wrote that: “Then, about the middle of January, I learned that the panel had concluded its report and presented the same to the Minister. While I didn’t get the full details of the report, I learned that the panel could not establish any non-remittance, as had been claimed and sold to the President and Nigerians by the Minister.
“I understood that it was discovered that we had in fact remitted over N182 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund within the period. This was said to have made the Minister angry, but there was nothing he could do about it.”
Even then, the former NPA boss said Amaechi requested her dismissal from office from the President.
She wrote: “… the President reportedly told him to send me a copy of the report and request my defence in writing. I learned that the Minister said there was no need for that since I was given the opportunity to defend myself before the panel. The President, however, insisted that since I hadn’t seen the report, I must be given the opportunity to defend myself in writing on the allegations reached by the panel. The Minister then reportedly left the villa, angry at the President’s directive. I waited for the report, but it never came. In its place, a query was delivered to me at home at about noon on Friday, January 28, 2022.” Even this query raised no questions about the alleged non-remittance, which has been sold to the public as the main reason for her suspension, she further alleged.
Bala Usman, however, hinted at operational disagreements that may have pitted her against the minister. She wrote that an industry stakeholder had warned her that the minister would want her out of office when two important contracts were due for renewal.
According to the book, “The first of these was the capital dredging contract, and the second, the service boat management contract. While the minister demanded an extension of the tenure of the companies providing capital dredging services without due process, he got approval for the restoration of an expired service boat contract. He got this even though the company was owing the federal government, had violated the Treasury Single Account policy, and above all no longer had any contract with the NPA.”
At the end of it all, however, Bala Usman said she was grateful that the panel did not find anything incriminating against her.
She wrote: “I thank God that the stories reporting the findings of the panel that there were no unremitted funds came out before the announcement of the appointment of the new Managing Director.
“Items four and five of the terms of reference of the administrative panel of inquiry mandated it to examine and investigate ‘the procurement of contracts’ from 2016 until May 2021, as well as ‘determine the revenue and expenditure profile’ of the NPA within the same period.
“I supervised the full implementation of the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 budgets of the Authority. This amounted to N968,095,758,859.00 (Nine hundred billion, ninety-five million, seven hundred and fifty-eight thousand, eight hundred and fifty-nine Naira), which is about $3,039,352,450.80 (Three billion, thirty-nine million, three hundred and fifty-two thousand, four hundred and fifty thousand US dollars, eight cents).”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has challenged the participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 32, to reaffirm commitment to upholding the principles of cooperation, tolerance and respect for diversity.
Tuggar, who was represented by Amb. Tiwatope Elias-Fatile, made the call at the NDC International Day organised for allied participants of Course 32, on Saturday in Abuja.
He said the event was organised by the college to foster the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and the countries of all international participants on the course through showcasing of different cultural heritage
”I also understand that variety of foods from different countries will be served at this event,” he said.
The minister commended the college for the increase in the number of foreign participants
He said that NDC environment had become a diplomatic hub of a sort and not only an academic institution and I think this is highly commendable.
According to him, NDC has provided a platform for them to come together, share their heritage and strengthen the bonds as they appreciate the artifacts, cuisine, traditional dresses and music on display.
“Today, as we celebrate International Day for international participants, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principles of cooperation, tolerance and respect for diversity.
“Let us embrace the notion that our differences are a source of strength, not division, and that by working together, we can overcome even the most formidable of challenges.
“Let us recognise that cultural diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
“For us in Nigeria, we have success stories of how our different cultures have brought us together and make us very strong in a world where division and conflicts often dominate the headlines,” he said.
According to him, this event reminds us that our shared humanity is greater than our differences.
“Let us continue to build bridges of understanding, foster dialogue and promote peace.
”We should strive to create a world where diversity is cherished and inclusivity is the norm,” he said.
Tuggar challenged participants from the 19 countries to continue to be ambassadors and representatives of their nations
He added that their stories, traditions and customs were the bridges that connect them with each other.
In his address of welcome, the Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Olotu, said the International Cultural Fiesta was a routine part of the NDC’s academic programme.
Olotu said said the event culminated the Country Briefs by the international participants where the history and culture of their peoples were highlighted, showing similarities with Nigeria.
He said the briefs by the international participants also highlighted government policies on the economy, security and development in heir respective countries.
According to him, the participants display the culture, artefacts, maps and culinary specialities of their countries during this event.
“This tradition is to foster and deepen the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and all the countries here represented by our dear international participants.
“This is in addition to the need to strengthen the bond, friendship and comradeship amongst participants.
“In a nutshell, it is a pleasant event that brings joy to the entire college community and today we have participants of NDC Course 32 to do us the honours.
“It is also a family gathering and an avenue for us to take a break from academic work and unwind in a relaxed atmosphere,” he said.
The Commandant said the 2024 edition had participants from 19 countries and Nigeria which include; the Republic of Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Chad, Congo, Cote d’ Ivoire the Gambia, Germany and Ghana.
Others according to him, are; India Liberia, Mali, Nepal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia as well as Zimbabwe.
The Representative of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr Tunde Spencer, from Liberia, said the college had contributed immensely to various aspects of Liberia’s national development.
He commended NDC for the initiative to promote cultural diversity, foster understanding and cultural exchange among the participants.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Youth and Community Engagement, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, (APC Ekiti South), said that the recently passed National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund Bill would provide jobs for graduates.
Adaramodu disclosed this when he led a delegation of the committee on official visit to Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp at Iseyin on Saturday.
He said that the bill would soon be sent to the President for assent and had scaled through both first, second reading and other crucibles of legislation.
The lawmaker said that the provision of the Bill was basically to ensure that corps members get established through the training they had acquired through NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
He added that the provision of the Bill also cater for corps members who might wish to go into business after their service year.
“The issue of unemployment and what next for corps members after the service year will be a thing of the past soon.
“The bill will ensure that the dreams of every Nigeria graduate become a reality, “he said.
Adaramodu disclosed that the Senate, in collaboration with relevant government departments, agencies and other stakeholders, would soon work on the upward review of corps members’ allowances across the country.
He said that the Senate, in its legislative agenda, would also consider other youth development programmes aside from those embedded in the NYSC trust fund Bill.
Also speaking, the Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Abel Odoba, said that NYSC SAED training aimed to empower corps members to consider the possibilities of self-employment or initiating their own businesses.
Odoba noted that the NYSC trust fund Bill would practically eradicate unemployment among graduate youths in Nigeria.
He said that statistics have shown that many corps members who actively engaged in SAED programmes have become employers of labour after their service year.
“The Bill will provide soft landing for corps members who have undergone SAED in securing startup funds.
“Through the trust fund, skilled corps members will be given startup grants so that they will become employers of labour and contribute to development of the nation.
“Country like China and other fast developing nations are exploring skills development to address unemployment.
“A time is coming that certificate will no longer be useful but skills acquired will always make way at all times, “he said.
The News Agency Nigeria(NAN) reports that members of the Senate delegation include Sen. Salisu Afolabi (APC Ogun Central), Sen. Aminu Abbas(PDP Adamawa Central), the clerk – Mrs Ijeoma Chikwem and other principal officers of senate youth development committee.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), on Saturday in Benin said that there would be power outage in its Amukpe substation for two weeks.
This is according to a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs TCN Ndidi Mbah.
Mbah said the disruption would begin on May 4 and last till May 17.
The outage according to TCN, is to enable contractors have safe environment to erect two 132KV transmission towers at the substation.
The company also said d that as a result of the intending power outage, there would be no bulk power supply to Benin DisCo through the Adeje industrial, woodland, Mosogar, Sapele and Abraka feeders for the period.
“The transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) hereby states that it will commence the erection of two (2) number 132kV transmission towers at its Amukpe Transmission Substation.
” And will equally restring a portion of the Benin-Delta and Delta-Oghara 132kV double circuit transmission lines from Saturday, May 4 to May 17, 2024.
“Consequently, Amukpe Substation will be out of power for the duration of the work.
“Also, there will be no bulk power supply to Benin DisCo through the following feeders: the Adeje, industrial Woodland, Mosogar, Sapele and Abraka feeders.
“The outage is necessary to create a safe working environment for the contractor. Completion of the projects will put in place N-1 redundancy that would enable TCN supply bulk electricity to the substation from either the Benin or Ughelli transmission line.
“This means that when one transmission line is faulty, bulk electricity can still be received in the substation from the second line., ” Mbah said.
According to her, TCN apologises for the inconvenience electricity consumers in the substation will experience within the period.
She said that the projects would help ensure a more flexible and consistent bulk power supply through the Amukpe transmission substation when completed
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