By Imoleayo Oyedeyi

Binyerem Ukaire, a permanent secretary in the ministry of information and national orientation, has reportedly stood in the way of funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for agencies under the ministry.

According to a report by Premium Times, the permanent secretary “refused to approve the payment files because the heads of the agencies declined her request to appear before her”.

The newspaper claimed the funds have been stalled for more than a week without official explanation from the ministry.

The affected agencies include the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

While the total amount approved was not disclosed, the newspaper said Tinubu approved the funds three weeks ago to strengthen the operations of the agencies.

According to the report, multiple sources said Ukaire asked the heads of the agencies “to make detailed presentations to her on their activities, the status of ongoing projects and how they intend to utilise the funds”.

However, the request was allegedly declined on the grounds that it was inconsistent with established civil service practice, a source told the newspaper.

The report said some agency heads confirmed the development but requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, was said to have intervened in the matter.

However, according to the report, the permanent secretary allegedly refused to back down, insisting the agency heads must appear before her to make presentations before the funds would be released.

One of the agency heads reportedly argued that they are answerable only to their boards and supervising minister, not to permanent secretaries.

According to the official, the delay has stalled projects and disrupted the agencies’ operations.

A circular issued by the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) on August 2, 1999 outlines the relationship between ministries and parastatals.

“The circular states that parastatals and government-owned companies are established by law with substantial autonomy and operational flexibility to enable them to provide services efficiently outside the mainstream civil service,” the report reads.

“It also provides that supervising ministries should not assume the day-to-day management of parastatals.

“On financial matters, the circular directs ministries to avoid interfering in the finances of the agencies under their control.

“It specifically states that ministries should not divert their subventions to unrelated ministry expenditures or require agencies to fund ministry expenses, including guest houses, vehicle fleets or estacode allowances for ministers and ministry officials.”

It is unclear if the circular subsists.

Responding to the allegations, the permanent secretary confirmed to the newspaper that the funds had yet to be released but said the payment file was being processed.

TheCable also reached out to Ukaire for further clarification, but she had yet to respond to calls or messages.

The development comes amid growing concerns by federal legislators over poor implementation of budgetary provisions during the Tinubu dispensation, which they say is underpinned by inadequate funding and delayed cash backing for approved projects.

Source: TheCable