General
Reps Investigates Alleged IPPIS Mismanagement
By Adedapo Adesanya
The House of Representatives is investigating alleged misconduct in the management of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The lower chamber set up a committee mandated to investigate alleged employment racketeering and alleged mismanagement of personnel recruitment across agencies of government.
This followed the unanimous adoption of a motion by Mr Wole Oke at plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Mr Oke said that the federal government has numerous agencies which and which represent the biggest employers of labour in Nigeria.
Mr Oke said that the overhead of public institutions constitutes a major component of the budget of the federal government of Nigeria.
According to him, recruitment into public service has historically been a channel through which the federal government makes social interventions, stabilises society, reduces poverty and increases its access to all parts of Nigeria.
The lawmaker underscored the essence and the importance of managing the process of recruitment and payment of civil servants and public officers;
“Notwithstanding this near-sacred role being played by the federal government, the process of recruiting and employment into the civil service has become one that is fraught with endemic corruption.
“Public institutions have since stopped the process of advertising for jobs and vacancies. Even in the few instances where adverts are published, the slots are already commoditised and available for the highest bidders.
“In other words, most public institutions now sell employment positions, notwithstanding the qualification of the applicant and the ability of the applicant to perform optimally on the job.
“This poses a major risk and has indeed constituted itself into a channel for the underperformance of the Nigerian public service,” he said.
Mr Oke explained that between the 1960s to 1990s, Nigeria boasted of one of the best crops of public servants in the world and service delivery was at the highest level of professionalism.
According to him, this situation has since changed, largely because of the method of recruitment and the quality of recruitment into these public institutions, which is driven by fraud, abuses, corruption and pecuniary considerations.
Mr Oke said that the federal government had tried to address other abuses within the system, particularly the menace of ghost workers, which necessitated the introduction of the IPPIS to help fish out the large number of ghost workers.
The lawmaker alleged that some agencies of government, in collusion with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, have devised methods to insert ghost workers and get payments through back-door channels.
“They have also crafted methods that are being used to circumvent the BVN technology. This state of affairs is costing the Federal Government billions of Naira monthly in salary payments to ghost workers and in illegal payments to several civil servants across cadres.
“Worried that as things stand now, the Federal Government is not getting value for money, rather it is losing both in quality, quantity and substance across recruitment and payment of personnel.
“Even more worrisome is that some staff members that have been legitimately employed have not received salaries for months and years, despite the fact that they were recruited legally into the Federal Civil Service.
“Concerned that if urgent steps are not taken to investigate these challenges, the morale of most civil servants will be completely dampened.
“The federal government will continue to lose billions in monthly payments to ghost workers and illegal payments, and the nation will continue to be serviced by unqualified workers trooping into various sectors within the Federal Civil Service,” he said.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of the house, Mr Benjamin Kalu, mandated the committee to investigate the various agencies of government and tertiary institutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Increase in production volume at refineries in Nigeria will reduce petrol deficit in the country by 39 per cent to 170,000 barrels per day in 2025 from 280,000 barrels per day, according to Kpler.
Kpler, a market insights firm focused on the energy and shipping markets, said in a report that increasing output at the Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries throughout 2025 are expected to significantly lengthen not just Nigeria but West Africa’s petroleum (gasoline) balances.
“Increasing refinery runs at Nigeria’s Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries throughout 2025 are expected to significantly lengthen West Africa’s gasoline balances,” the firm said.
It confirmed that the shift will pose challenges for European refiners, with European gasoline exports to Nigeria already dropping to a four-year low of 70,000 barrels per day in December.
Recall that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recently said that the increased production of petroleum products by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the importation of refined products from Europe.
The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote oil refinery built by Nigerian billionaire, Mr Aliko Dangote, in Lagos, had affirmed to compete with European refiners when operating at full capacity.
Although, when it started operations last year, it struggled to secure sufficient crude locally — as production remains below target and tied to contracts with other players by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
Kpler said that following the commissioning of key units within the gasoline block-Reformer, isomerization, RFCC, and Alkylation-this output is reflected in the sharp reduction in residue and naphtha production.
“We estimate that Dangote’s RFCC (the most critical unit for high- volume gasoline production) is currently operating at 40-45% capacity, placing total Nigerian gasoline production at above 100 kbd,” Kpler added.
It wrote that, “Dangote’s fuel oil exports, for instance, fell from 60 kbd in 23 to just 6 kbd in Q4, while naphtha exports also dropped significantly q/q,” adding that, “Achieving higher yields and production volumes will depend on further romping up RFCC unit rates, a milestone antiopated by late 2025.”
Kpler pointed out increased production volumes at Dangote will reduce “Nigeria’s gasoline deficit from -280 kbd in 2024 to -170 kbd in 2025 (and-100 kbd in 2026).”
It explained that while Dangote’s petrol will primarily cater to domestic markets, the refinery is also poised to become a major suppler across Western, Central, and Southern Africa.
It added that Dangote Refinery shipped about 60,000 barrels per day in the last quarter of 2024 to Congo, Ghana, Angola, Cameroon, and others.
By Bon Peters
As the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) braces up for the February 2025 election, a chieftain and incumbent General Secretary of the group at the Onne Seaport chapter, Mr Chinedu Ikenga, has promised to be the voice of members.
Mr Ikenga is contesting for the chairmanship position of the chapter and while unveiling his 7-Point Agenda in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, he said, “I firmly believe that every member of ANLCA in general and Onne chapter, in particular, deserves a voice, and I am committed to be that voice for each and every one of you.”
The association’s scribe, who described ANLCA as a place of learning, growth and development, promised to continue on that part, noting that such values should be the touchstone for anybody who aspires to lead the chapter.
Relying on his accessibility, humility, honesty, integrity, inclusiveness, commitment, dedication and uprightness, industry watchers and critical stakeholders believe that Mr Ikenga is the man for the top job, all things being equal.
The GS, who is the chief executive of Prestige Associates Limited, said he would prioritise members’ needs and concerns when elected.
He also pledged to create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, promote a friendly and conducive environment for business to thrive, ensure ANLCA becomes a better place for members, and create opportunities that would guarantee members’ welfare.
He also promised to sustain and improve on the foundation led by previous administrations for the benefit of the group.
After launching his manifesto, Mr Ikenga visited some of the government agencies at the ports, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the West African Container Terminal (WACT), and the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), among others.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The wife of a former Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, Mrs Folashade Odumosu, has been rescued from the kidnappers’ den.
Mrs Odumosu, whose husband retired as an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), regained freedom in the earlier hours of Thursday, January 23, 2025, after some police detective launched an attack on her abductors.
She was forcefully picked up by the suspects on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at about 9:45 pm from her car outside her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State allegedly by four masked gunmen.
Immediately after the incident, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command began surveillance for her rescue, which finally happened a week later.
In a statement issued by the police spokesman, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, narrated that the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants.
It was stated that their efforts culminated in a raid today after an intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.
Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons.
The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed. She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family.
The police also recovered four AK-47 rifles, three locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibres, and the sum of N10 million ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for the successful operation, saying it exemplifies the dedication and resilience of police officers.
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