Governmet to probe Discos over CBN’S N260b for transformers

A Member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Femi Odekunle has said that the Federal Government would soon set up a panel to investigate how the electricity distribution companies (Discos) manage the N260billion given to them by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to buy transformers to enhance electricity supply in the country.

He also said that the amnesty programme initiated to rehabilitate militants in the Niger Delta area is not sustainable because according to him the programme is tantamount to rationalised bribery.

Delivering a keynote address yesterday at the 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) in Osogbo,Osun state capital, the Professor of Criminology gave a Score card of the activities of the committee so far, asking all
Nigerians to play their part in a determined effort to eliminate corruption in the society.

Odekunle, who painted a graphic picture of the level of corruption in Nigeria pointed out that between 2006-2013 alone 55 Nigerians stole about N1.4trillion from the system.

He added that one third of the looted funds, applying the World Bank rates, and cost could have provided 640 kilometres of road, built 36 ultra –modern hospitals, built and furnished 185 schools and educated 4,000 children from primary to tertiary levels.

He also chided the anti-graft agencies alleging they are less effective and efficient because some of their officials are known to be corrupt.
“What has happened to high profile corruption the nation is familiar with and why have they not been properly investigated?’’ he queried.

Odekunle said it cannot be business as usual in the Nigerian state stressing that local government officials in 14 local councils in the north east should be prepared to account for what they have been doing with allocations they collected, since insurgence erupted in the area.

In his remark, Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola underscored the importance of surveying in the development of the society saying his administration would continue to work with the institution.

Earlier, the President of NIS, Bern Akhigbe urged
President Buhari to reconstitute the Surveyor’s Council of Nigeria and to ensure stakeholders play critical role in its affairs.