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A permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Binyerem Ukaire, has reportedly blocked funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for agencies under the ministry, including NTA, FRCN, VON, NOA and NBC, over a dispute about agency heads appearing before her.
According to Premium Times, the permanent secretary refused to approve payment files because agency heads declined her request to appear before her. The funds have been stalled for more than a week without official explanation.
Minister Mohammed Idris reportedly intervened, but the permanent secretary insisted the agency heads must make presentations before funds would be released. Agency heads argue they are answerable only to their boards and supervising minister.
Key Points:
The permanent secretary blocked funds for NTA, FRCN, VON, NOA and NBC.
She demanded agency heads appear before her to make presentations.
Agency heads declined, arguing they are answerable only to their boards and minister.
Minister Mohammed Idris intervened but the permanent secretary refused to back down.
A 1999 SGF circular grants parastatals autonomy from supervising ministries.
The standoff between the permanent secretary and agency heads highlights the tension between ministerial oversight and agency autonomy within Nigeria’s civil service. While the permanent secretary’s demand for accountability may be well-intentioned, agency heads argue it undermines their statutory independence. The intervention of Minister Mohammed Idris suggests the matter may require clearer policy direction to prevent similar bureaucratic bottlenecks in the future.
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