Communications Minister sets up committee to probe NITDA DG

folarin okunola

January 4, 2016 5:18 PM

Jack was alleged to have mismanaged state funds running into hundreds of millions of naira in addition to breaching civil service rules.

Adebayo Shittu during his ministerial screening at the National house of assembly

According to various media reports, the minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, has set up a committee to probe alleged breach of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and financial abuse in the National Information Technology Department Agency (NITDA).

A report by The Nation newspaper reveals that the minister was angered by the non-adherence to a letter dated August 14, 2015 sent by a Dr. Tunji Olaopa, a former permanent secretary, who queried an alleged breach of rules by Mr. Peter Jack, the DG of NITDA.

According to the report, Jack was alleged to have mismanaged state funds running into hundreds of millions of naira in addition to breaching civil service rules.

Another report by Nigerian CommunicationsWeek also reveals that the Information Technology Law Practitioners Association of Nigeria, in a petition signed by its president Frederick Uyabeme and Secretary Olumide Aboyade-Cole, also accused the NITDA DG of fraud and administrative impunity in a six-page memorandum on the agency.

The reports also reveals that the petition was sent to anti-graft agencies.

READ: Minister of Communication pledges to work with NCS on IT related matters

In his letter to Jack, Olaopa stated: “It has come to my attention that there are several anomalies in your agency, which touch on the following: breach of public service rules pertaining to recruitment and secondment of staff; breaches of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and non-implementation of board directives as well as failure to seek approval of the ministry in absence of a board."

“I have also been inundated with news of your invitation to answer to sundry queries for breaches, yet you have not deemed it fit to update me on issues so I can appraise our principal as required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I am directing that you reverse all recruitment and secondment implemented without the approval of your board."

“You are to also ensure that all procurement processes are implemented with strict adherence to the Public Procurement Act 2007; and furthermore, I am reminding you that the absence of a board does not confer the liberty to breach the NITDA Act nor the Public Service rules."

“You are required to comply with the letters and spirit of the circular of July 16, 2015, on matters that would normally require the attention of the NITDA board.”

Apparently, the DG’s disdainful manner as regards the matter informed the ministers decision to set up a ministerial committee headed by the Director of Research and Statistics.

The report of the committee is expected to be submitted sometime this week, according to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.

folarin okunola