NIPC Directors Challenge Executive Secretary On Auditors’ Report

In a swift reaction to the claim made by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Saratu Umar, that some directors of the commission who were indicted in the audit report of the commission were the ones instigating staff against her, the directors have described the allegation as laughable and called on Umar to mention the names of those involved.

In a statement issued to The Guardian, the directors, said, “we categorically refute the assertion that there was an audit of account books let alone an indictment of any director, and if they were any, it should have been known to management of which we are members. 

“We would not allow our integrity to be undermined by the executive secretary after the various roles we have played in positioning the commission to contribute positively to the economy of the nation.”

The directors stated that they have been trying to resolve contending issues as management staff, but instead of giving everyone a level playing field, the executive secretary has been running the commission as a one-man show.

They alleged that the NIPC boss had recently collected N13million annual leave grant for her husband and four children, when in actual sense she is a single mother with only two children.

In a related development, the National Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (NAIPA), has observed with dismay the deteriorating situation in NIPC since the appointment of Umar.

NAIPA, in a press release made available to journalists said the executive secretary appears to have serious challenges with capacity and has been having difficulty in effectively dealing with investors as well as staff of the organisation.

The statement issued by the association secretary, Chief Adesoji Adesugba called on the government to ask the executive secretary to proceed on leave so as to ensure that she does not tamper with documents, which will be used as evidence of her incompetence or otherwise.

His words: “What is also worrisome is the negative effect such a situation is having on intending foreign investors wishing to come to Nigeria.  The current executive secretary of the NIPC, who had previously been sacked from NEXIM Bank on grounds of incompetence, low performance and insubordination definitely does not have the capacity to lead NIPC.’’