By Adeola Tukuru
Abuja–
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the federal government to act decisively in the ongoing rift between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, and to restore confidence in the government and the fight against corruption.
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa,in a press statement issued yesterday in Abuja also noted with grave concern, allegations leveled against the GMD that he circumvented the procurement process in the award of series of contracts involving a humongous sum of up to $25 billion or N9 trillion (at prevailing exchange rate of N360 to a dollar).
According to him “If proven, this will amount to a major set-back in the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparency and accountability in governance which is, supposedly, the major thrust of this administration.
“CISLAC finds it worrisome that such abuse of due process could have gone on without restraint under an administration that promised change and a different way of conducting government business.
“The abuse in the award of contracts in sums exceeding the annual budget of the nation represents a scandalous all-time low in a sector that is notorious for monumental corruption.
