The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, says mismanagement and subversion of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), is a gross misconduct and criminal activity that challenges the “very core principles of prudent management of our nation’s financial resources.”
He made the remarks at the inaugural meeting of the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals and Tertiary Institutions on Mismanagement Personnel Recruitment, Employment Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), in Abuja.
He said that the it was important to clean up the system and make it work for the people.
“This Committee emblematizes the House’s commitment to entrench transparency, efficiency and accountability in public service. Therefore, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, I am convinced that fostering good governance in Nigeria’s public institutions is not only a routine legislative responsibility but an obligation we owe to the people of Nigeria. The matters before this Ad-hoc Committee represent the yearnings of Nigerian citizens, hence, must be treated with keen attention. The abuse of personnel recruitment and blatant employment racketeering destroys the essence of bureaucratic processes and leaves damaging implications. It affects the integrity of our institutions and distort the aspirations of many citizens who seek competitive and fair opportunities. This negative practice is an affront to the Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides the even distribution of our commonwealth in the spirit of federal character. The essence of this provision as explained in Section 318 (1) of the Constitution is to foster national loyalty, inclusiveness and to give every part of the country a sense of belonging. The issues this committee is to investigate negate this very noble intent of the drafters of our Constitution and cannot be overlooked in the spirit of national interest,” Hon Abbas said.
He also challenged the Committee to address the issues head-on and recommend policy agenda for legislative actions.
“In addition, as you carry out this intrinsic national responsibility, I enjoin you to be guided by the values of integrity, fairness, and social justice. You must also engage relevant stakeholders in open dialogues, “ he added.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon Yusuf Gagdi, said the committee was not out to witch hunt anybody but to collect facts and report back to the House.
He said the committee would not tolerate any agency that would send Representatives and ordered the Auditor General of the Federation to appear in person with all the needed documents.
He noted that the IPPIS was also to give their opinion on efficiency of the scheme.
The mover of the motion that led to the setting up of the Committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke, said that IPPIS is a software and it should not be difficult to submit reports to the committee.
He said that no agency should be allowed to waste the time of the committee by not surrendering the requirements asked for.
A Director with the IPPIS, Deko Emma, said that he was not properly briefed before coming to the committee.
A Chief Auditor in the office of the Auditor General Auditor General of the Federation, Arikpo Otu, said that he needed more time to make available the required agencies.
A commissioner from Taraba state, Mr. Almayau Abubakar, who represented the Chairman, Mrs. Muhibba Dantata, had earlier told the committee that the Chairman was sick and could not appear before the committee.
However, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Adamu Yusuf Gagdi, insisted that all commissioners appear before the committee by 11am on Wednesday.
“No matter where any commissioner was, they must appear in the National Assembly tomorrow before 11:00am. We need her here,” Gagdi said.
