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ICPC Interrogates Former Minister Chris Ngige Over Alleged Contracts and Job Racketeering
Abuja, Nigeria – The Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC) has questioned former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, over his alleged involvement in questionable contracts and job racketeering throughout his tenure. The interrogation, which befell on Wednesday, lasted almost 5 hours and targeted on Ngige’s actions associated to the Nigerian Social Insurance coverage Belief Fund (NSITF).
Ngige, who served within the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is underneath scrutiny for his function within the approval of contracts and gratuity funds on the NSITF. One of many key points within the probe is a N47 million gratuity paid to Mrs. Maureen Allagoa, the previous Managing Director of NSITF, whereas she was nonetheless in workplace. The fee has raised issues concerning the attainable misuse of funds and irregularities within the NSITF’s monetary operations.
Additional complicating issues is a December 2022 report by News360 Nigeria, which implicated Ngige within the approval of a last-minute N20 billion contract for the digitalization and automation of NSITF actions. The contract, awarded to P2E Applied sciences, was allegedly rushed via with out correct due course of, resulting in suspicions of potential monetary misappropriation.
Sources inside the NSITF have described the contract as an “emergency” settlement, ready hurriedly by the Head of the Authorized Division and expedited via the workplace of Madam Ijeoma Okoronkwo, the Board Secretariat Workplace. In response to reviews, the contract was signed by the contractor on the Board Secretary’s workplace and rapidly forwarded to Ngige for his pressing consideration.
“That is one in all too many fictitious contracts awarded that won’t be executed inside this quick ministerial cupboard reshuffle,” mentioned a supply conversant in the matter. The supply additional warned that if NSITF accounts will not be frozen quickly, as much as N20 billion could possibly be misplaced as a consequence of these questionable contracts.
The ICPC’s investigation into these allegations is ongoing, and the fee has but to launch an official assertion on the matter. The result of the probe may have vital implications for Ngige and others concerned within the alleged irregularities on the NSITF.
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