NPA: Matters Arising As Hadiza Bala Usman Is Called To Account
By Olakunle Banjoko
The furor generated in the past few days at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) where President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the suspension of the Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, leaves much to be desired. The backlash is unfolding as few interested parties appear to have become Usman’s attorney for obvious reasons. And as one journalist would capture the scenario in the media, it is because the ‘farm is on fire’, a statement that means so much for those in the system. One argument is that the best would have been to suspend the entire executive management. Yet, this argument is punctured by another school of opinion that those who feel this way could be likened to the position of the woman who stole a baby in the Bible and was contesting the ownership with the real mother. King Solomon as we read had in his wisdom decided as a last resolution to cut the baby into two. Incidentally, the one who stole the baby accepted this verdict as welcome as against the real mother of the child, in what gave a clue to who really is the mother. Solomon did not waste time in deciding to give the baby to the latter. In the NPA imbroglio, some appear to be interested in spilling the bin, to fill the air with bad smell. But that is far from addressing the real issue which include the allegations raised by the Budget Office, the Auditor-General’s office and other more serious scandal of corrupt practices involving several billions of Naira.
Hadiza Usman’s call to account started when the Federal Government in a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Mr Garba Shehu, said she had been suspended from office, while a panel of inquiry to investigate her will be set up.The statement had named the Authority’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Mohammed Koko as the Acting Managing Director of the NPA. The statement also revealed that the panel of inquiry is to be constituted by the Ministry of Transportation. Under the arrangement announced by the Ministry, the Panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services while the Deputy Director, Legal is to serve as Secretary.
Since the statement was made public last week, there has been a lot of reactions from many fronts. First, the Presidency had been blamed in some quarters that it was wrong to suspend Hadiza without explaining her offence to her. In a way this would appear appropriate, but the bureaucracy in government does not always offer reasons for its actions. In one instance, some people argued that the NPA issue is personal, pointing to the alleged soiled relationship between the Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi and Hadiza as responsible for the latter’s predicament. Hadiza had argued on her own that she ought to have been served and allow to respond to a query before her suspension. As a government appointee, her posturing is neither here nor there.
Few hours after the statement from the Presidency, information began to seep out giving an indication a deluge of reasons behind Hadiza’s suspension. It was alleged that NPA failed to remit the sum of N165.3billion operating surplus to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) account between 2016 and 2020.
The finding was raised by the Budget Office of the Federation which is in a position to know. Minister Amaechi in his memo drew the President’s attention to the query from the Budget office. The Minister requested the approval of the President to carry out an audit of the Authority’s financial records for the period 2016 to 2020. To him, the audit was to ascertain the true financial position and the outstanding unremitted balance of N165.3 billion. He had explained that the audit was necessary to account for the gross shortfall as discovered by the Budget Office, a prayer the President approved.
Reactions attributed to her seems to suggest that she may have a personal axe to grind with her boss, the Minister of Transportation. But observers opine that her finger pointing responses do no justice to the allegations against her. The rhetoric is that the Minister has not been having good rapport with Hadiza. To many, this argument does not hold water considering that Hadiza came from the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, before she was recommended to the President for appointment. Both el-Rufai and Amaechi have not suddenly become two strange bed fellows now to think this is to slight the Kaduna governor. The question on the lips of many is , should the Minister’s hand be tied in checking shortcomings in his Ministry especially allegations as weighty as those against Hadiza because of his friendship with el-Rufai? To observers, at such perilous times of economic woes, it would have been a disservice on the part of the Minister to turn a deaf ear to such allegations given the observations from both Budget Office and the Auditor-General, among others.
Having been made aware that a parastatal under his watch seems to be involve in alleged financial infractions, Minister Amaechi appear to have followed due process by seeking approval from the President to institute a probe. However when Madam Hadiza as reported, got wind of the presidential approval, she quickly put together a defence and forwarded it directly to the office of the president’s Chief of Staff. This can only suggest an arrogant act of insubordination and a breach of official communication, with respect to the office of the Honourable Minister. Clearly her action that smacks of desperation, should be roundly condemned.
Despite the finger-pointing against his person, Amaechi is one man who pull no punches as a public servant. What the federal government did is therefore a good development and one that is capable of addressing flagrant abuse in corporate governance. It is on this note that the panel of inquiry is welcomed. Perhaps, some of the allegations may not be true, but that is for the panel of inquiry to determine. Beyond the inquiry is the need for an external auditor to review the accounts of the NPA between 2016 to 2020. But the eternal auditor should be an internationally acclaimed firm of strong reputation which must not be the one appointed by either Hadiza, her aides, sponsors or contacts close to her.
Insinuations are that Hadiza wants the audit firm which has been carrying out services for the NPA since she joined the Authority is to carry out the review. This is not healthy for fear of compromise. Nigerians are aware of how audit firms operate in our clime. Simply put, they can be compromised to the advantage of those who hired them and the audit firm itself. Ideally, an external audit firm should carry out the assignment before the panel of inquiry becomes operational. The idea here is that the report of the audit would guide the Panel of Inquiry in the discharge of their assignment.
The panel of inquiry we’re told, is to examine and investigate if actions taken by the suspended Managing Director are in line with extant public service regulations, procedures, spending approvals, and related matters thereto. Rather than rush to the court of public opinion, Hadiza Bala Usman should rise to the challenge of being held to account for her over four years sojourn in NPA.
Banjoko,writes from Olodi-Apapa, Lagos State.
The furor generated in the past few days at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) where President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the suspension of the Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, leaves much to be desired. The backlash is unfolding as few interested parties appear to have become Usman’s attorney for obvious reasons. And as one journalist would capture the scenario in the media, it is because the ‘farm is on fire’, a statement that means so much for those in the system. One argument is that the best would have been to suspend the entire executive management. Yet, this argument is punctured by another school of opinion that those who feel this way could be likened to the position of the woman who stole a baby in the Bible and was contesting the ownership with the real mother. King Solomon as we read had in his wisdom decided as a last resolution to cut the baby into two. Incidentally, the one who stole the baby accepted this verdict as welcome as against the real mother of the child, in what gave a clue to who really is the mother. Solomon did not waste time in deciding to give the baby to the latter. In the NPA imbroglio, some appear to be interested in spilling the bin, to fill the air with bad smell. But that is far from addressing the real issue which include the allegations raised by the Budget Office, the Auditor-General’s office and other more serious scandal of corrupt practices involving several billions of Naira.
Hadiza Usman’s call to account started when the Federal Government in a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Mr Garba Shehu, said she had been suspended from office, while a panel of inquiry to investigate her will be set up.The statement had named the Authority’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Mohammed Koko as the Acting Managing Director of the NPA. The statement also revealed that the panel of inquiry is to be constituted by the Ministry of Transportation. Under the arrangement announced by the Ministry, the Panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services while the Deputy Director, Legal is to serve as Secretary.
Since the statement was made public last week, there has been a lot of reactions from many fronts. First, the Presidency had been blamed in some quarters that it was wrong to suspend Hadiza without explaining her offence to her. In a way this would appear appropriate, but the bureaucracy in government does not always offer reasons for its actions. In one instance, some people argued that the NPA issue is personal, pointing to the alleged soiled relationship between the Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi and Hadiza as responsible for the latter’s predicament. Hadiza had argued on her own that she ought to have been served and allow to respond to a query before her suspension. As a government appointee, her posturing is neither here nor there.
Few hours after the statement from the Presidency, information began to seep out giving an indication a deluge of reasons behind Hadiza’s suspension. It was alleged that NPA failed to remit the sum of N165.3billion operating surplus to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) account between 2016 and 2020.
The finding was raised by the Budget Office of the Federation which is in a position to know. Minister Amaechi in his memo drew the President’s attention to the query from the Budget office. The Minister requested the approval of the President to carry out an audit of the Authority’s financial records for the period 2016 to 2020. To him, the audit was to ascertain the true financial position and the outstanding unremitted balance of N165.3 billion. He had explained that the audit was necessary to account for the gross shortfall as discovered by the Budget Office, a prayer the President approved.
Reactions attributed to her seems to suggest that she may have a personal axe to grind with her boss, the Minister of Transportation. But observers opine that her finger pointing responses do no justice to the allegations against her. The rhetoric is that the Minister has not been having good rapport with Hadiza. To many, this argument does not hold water considering that Hadiza came from the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, before she was recommended to the President for appointment. Both el-Rufai and Amaechi have not suddenly become two strange bed fellows now to think this is to slight the Kaduna governor. The question on the lips of many is , should the Minister’s hand be tied in checking shortcomings in his Ministry especially allegations as weighty as those against Hadiza because of his friendship with el-Rufai? To observers, at such perilous times of economic woes, it would have been a disservice on the part of the Minister to turn a deaf ear to such allegations given the observations from both Budget Office and the Auditor-General, among others.
Having been made aware that a parastatal under his watch seems to be involve in alleged financial infractions, Minister Amaechi appear to have followed due process by seeking approval from the President to institute a probe. However when Madam Hadiza as reported, got wind of the presidential approval, she quickly put together a defence and forwarded it directly to the office of the president’s Chief of Staff. This can only suggest an arrogant act of insubordination and a breach of official communication, with respect to the office of the Honourable Minister. Clearly her action that smacks of desperation, should be roundly condemned.
Despite the finger-pointing against his person, Amaechi is one man who pull no punches as a public servant. What the federal government did is therefore a good development and one that is capable of addressing flagrant abuse in corporate governance. It is on this note that the panel of inquiry is welcomed. Perhaps, some of the allegations may not be true, but that is for the panel of inquiry to determine. Beyond the inquiry is the need for an external auditor to review the accounts of the NPA between 2016 to 2020. But the eternal auditor should be an internationally acclaimed firm of strong reputation which must not be the one appointed by either Hadiza, her aides, sponsors or contacts close to her.
Insinuations are that Hadiza wants the audit firm which has been carrying out services for the NPA since she joined the Authority is to carry out the review. This is not healthy for fear of compromise. Nigerians are aware of how audit firms operate in our clime. Simply put, they can be compromised to the advantage of those who hired them and the audit firm itself. Ideally, an external audit firm should carry out the assignment before the panel of inquiry becomes operational. The idea here is that the report of the audit would guide the Panel of Inquiry in the discharge of their assignment.
The panel of inquiry we’re told, is to examine and investigate if actions taken by the suspended Managing Director are in line with extant public service regulations, procedures, spending approvals, and related matters thereto. Rather than rush to the court of public opinion, Hadiza Bala Usman should rise to the challenge of being held to account for her over four years sojourn in NPA.
Banjoko,writes from Olodi-Apapa, Lagos State.
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