NECO scam, attempt to deride Buhari’s corruption war–NGO

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the FCT, under the aegis of Anti Corruption Crusaders of Nigeria (ACCN) said the recent allegations of corruption scandal rocking the National Examinations Council (NECO) was a desperate attempt to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The group therefore called for a thorough job by the investigative panel saddled with the responsibility of probing the alleged N25 billion contract award by Prof. Charles Uwakwe-led NECO.
Recall that Uwakwe and two other principal officers were suspended from office following allegations of a contract award to the tune of N25 billion.
In a swift reaction, the anti corruption group said the call for justice had become necessary in view of the huge amount involved in the face of the dwindling fortunes of the educational sector in Nigeria.
Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, the spokesperson of the anti-corruption group, Comrade Christian Omale, stated that the group was in support of the corruption investigation, but demanded that the investigative panel be very thorough, objective and fair in the discharge of its mandate.
Omale told journalists that it was strange for a Council under the watchful eyes of the federal ministry of education and members of the National Assembly in terms of budgeting, to mismanage such huge sum of money through contract awards if this was not an attempt to rubbish this administration.
He therefore, assured that his group will religiously follow up the case with a view to bringing justice to all parties involved, stressing that the era of frivolous allegations were over.
“As our name implies, we are in support of the anti-corruption fight of the present administration and the setting up of the investigative panel to probe the alleged N25 billion contract award by some principal officers of NECO led by Prof. Uwakwe.
“We took it up as soon as the news of the suspension of these principal officers was announced and the huge sum of money involved considering the dwindling resources in the education sector. We know what N25 billion will do to resuscitate the ailing sector.
“However, we are still in doubt as to how such huge sum of money can vanish from the council under the watchful eyes of the federal ministry of education and National Assembly.
“We all know the approval limit of serving ministers and chief executive officers of agencies and parastals in the country.
“We are convinced that the number of candidates who sat for NECO and how much the council made is in the public domain.
“How can a council like NECO award N25 billion contracts without approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC)? How much is the budget of the council as approved by the National Assembly?” Omale queried.
He therefore called on the relevant agencies and other anti-corruption social networks to join hands in ensuring that justice prevailed in the matter.
He urged the federal government and the panel not to hesitate to punish anyone found culpable in any campaign of calumny against the government; as well as ensure the reinstatement of any officer cleared of this allegation.
“Ensure that any innocent officer cleared at the end of this assignment is reinstated to send a message that this government, in its wisdom, has only put in place people that are surely competent and clean.
“We are watching as the case of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is still fresh in the memories of most Nigerians.’’