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N450BN UNREMITTED FUNDS; FG MUST RECOVER FUNDS, PUNISH CULPRITS – CACOL

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared that it is set to prosecute officials of revenue generating agencies indicted in an audit report disclosing that N450bn was not remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account.
 
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, revealed that the report of the special audit carried out on 33 revenue generating agencies showed serious infractions in some of the agencies. The Minister, according to media reports, also claimed that N450bn was recoverable from the agencies as unremitted funds for 2010 to 2015 fiscal period.
 
Stemming from this development, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has called for judicial actions to be taken against those found culpable whilst urging that the case should not be taken with levity. The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran stated that it’s a manifestation of the state of decadence in the public institutions and agencies, while also calling for the law to run its full-course.”
He said, “It is a heart-rending reality that corruption has set its roots in every institution in the country. It is even more worrisome that the virus called ‘corruption’ has been allowed to fester for too long and now seems to overwhelm the country as a whole.”
 
Some of the agencies are the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, National Health Insurance Scheme, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and Nigerian Communication Commission.
Adeniran called on the President to show commitment to the people especially in the fight against corruption, he said, “this development goes further to show how deeply seated the cankerworm has eaten into the fabric of every facet of our body polity. It’s so deep seated that no arm of government or institution is extricable from the corrupt practices. The revelation of the 450bn naira buttresses CACOL’s position that civil service is soaked in institutionalized corruption.”
“It is public knowledge that corruption is almost institutionalized in the Civil Service to the extent that Civil Servants are euphemistically described as ‘Evil Servants’, emanating from the experience of most Nigerians or foreigners that have had one thing or the other to do with the Civil servants and the Civil Service. Nigerians have quietly endured this situation for too long. And we know the 33 agencies involved in this case is just ‘a tip of the iceberg’, if the investigations, probes, prosecution are continued with the necessary vigour, many more ‘cans of worms’ will be opened.”
 
Adeniran averred that, “It is not enough to announce to the public that N450bn was not remitted to the Federal Government from 2010 to 2015, we expect actions to be taken against those who failed to stick to operational guidelines and convictions against those found to be culpable. The scope of the auditing should be widened in spread; the FG must immediately involve the EFCC, ICPC and other relevant agencies and sustain the ongoing effort with a view of fishing out the culprits to face justice.”
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
December 2, 2016
 
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
 
 
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100 INEC OFFICIALS CONNECTED TO DIEZANI’S $115M LOOT: CLEANSE THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM, ENSURE DILIGENT PROSECUTION AND CONVICTIONS – CACOL

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has begun the arraignment of electoral officials who received bribes from the $115m allegedly disbursed by Diezani-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources.
 
According to news reports, the commission is set to charge over 100 electoral officials for purportedly receiving monies under investigation from the former minister during the countdown to the 2015 general elections. The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu and the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu would be meeting in Abuja to finalize the charges that would be filed against the suspects.
 
In reacting to the trial, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL have asserted that electoral crimes serve as precursors for corruption in the governance. The Executive Chairman of the Coalition, Mr. Debo Adeniran commented on the happenings saying, “from these reports, it can be easily deduced that Nigeria’s democracy is regularly put up for auction to the highest bidder.”
 
He added that, “any electoral official that perpetrates political corruption, which usually leads to the throwing up corrupt government are culpable in the helping looters to the corridors of power. They easily put up the mandate of the people up for sale. For years, Nigerians have remained victims of bad leadership which has a strong linkage to failures and corrupt practices perpetrated by electoral officials mostly during elections.”
 
”We commend the EFCC for not leaving any stone unturned in their investigations while also calling for the prosecution of Diezani-Madueke, and every other electoral official that took the bribe. In the same vein, we are urging the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to begin a review of the electoral commission in order to come up with ingenious protocols to forestall or eradicate any corrupt tendencies in subsequent elections. If we do not cleanse our government and electoral process from corrupt elements then our government would inevitably become a den for thieves.”
 
He concluded stating that, “the anti-graft agency and the electoral commission should continue to publish the names of all officials who received bribes so that Nigerians can continue to identify them as the dishonest lots who sold the peoples’ mandate to the highest bidder. We call on the government to cleanse the electoral system to forestall corruption in governance.”
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
December 1, 2016
 
 
 
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THE SENATE’S DELAY IN CONFIRMING MAGU AS CHAIRMAN OF EFCC IS UNNECESSARY AND SELF-SERVING – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has said that the Senate has no good reason for delaying Mr. Ibrahim Magu’s confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said, “in his role as Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has been bold in confronting economic and financial crimes regardless of whose ox is gored. The only logical reason the Senate is delaying the confirmation, is perhaps, the reality that many members have one corruption case or the other to contend with, including the Senate President himself. They know that he will not give in to their antics of bribery and corruption.”
“Magu has been appointed as acting the Chairman of the EFCC since November 11, 2015, and he has been working ardently to expose much of the sleaze and noxious acts associated with the law makers. All the sharp practices that had been perpetrated in the past by the past administration, Senate and other members are being uncovered on a daily bases, and they assume he is over stepping his boundary. As such, the law makers see Magu as a threat, because there are lots of skeletons in their cupboard.” Mr. Adeniran averred.
“Majority of those in the National Assembly are afraid of the EFCC boss, they went there to steal from the system. They have seen what Magu is doing. Left for them, they would have removed him and put someone they can control, who will not question their wrongdoings as the EFCC Chairman.”
“We know if the acting Chairman had been open to enticement and ready to ‘play ball’, he would have been confirmed by now, unfortunately for the corrupt-minded, he is a man of integrity, thus they resort all sorts of flimsy excuses while placing unnecessary obstacles on the path of Magu’s confirmation.” He added.
 “They may not confirm Magu because he is a no-nonsense man. Whether or not they do it, Magu will not relent in carrying out his duties, in as much as they don’t succeed in intimidating him, and they cannot successfully attack him even if they try, they will not be able to concretise their plan. They know that Magu is not someone that will fall for intimidation and he is ready to die for what he believes in. The Senate is just presenting itself as a bunch of people that only wants things that favour them.” Mr. Adeniran concluded.
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 30, 2016
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CACOL calls on President Buhari to establish a precedent in anti-corruption fight as Obanikoro prepares to testify

According to news reports, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, has agreed to testify against Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state and his aide, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.
 
This is following the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on the Dasuki Gate totaling $2.1bn. From the investigations, Obanikoro admitted to receiving N4.7bn from Dasuki which he later distributed to Ayodele Fayose and Omisore, a former governor aspirant in Osun state.
 
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has been ardent with the development of this case and expects that this would lead to convictions of those involved in the corruption act. The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran has described this heinous crime as unpardonable and challenges the Buhari administration to establish widely expected precedent in the fight against corruption.
 
He said, “The embattled governor should surely have his day in court in the light of these revelations. But what has become more glaring by the day is that monies were illegally disbursed and misappropriated. These monies ought to have been used to combat the insurgency in Northern Nigeria but were diverted into the coffers of unscrupulous politicians. This selfish act has caused so much loss of lives taken by violence that could have been managed or averted.”
 
“We expect an inimitable precedent to be established with these cases; whereby the long hands of the law will be seen to catch up with those who think themselves to be untouchable. It is quite unfortunate that there is still a section of the public who still perceive the anti-corruption fight of the current administration as ‘witch-hunt’ despite the numerous revelations made in the media by suspected corrupt persons.” Adeniran added.
 
The reports also suggest that Omisore and Obanikoro have been cooperative with the EFCC by giving them information and also returning stolen funds back to the government. However, the allegations made against Fayose’s aide are believed to be sufficient to convict both of them.
 
Adeniran continuing his statement averred that, “The revelations have also debunked statements made by former President Goodluck Jonathan claiming that no ‘arms deal’ money was missing. We are watching and anticipating with high expectations on how these stories would be concluding.”
 
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state is under immunity, but this does not prevent his investigation as a serving governor, and at the end of his tenure in 2018 it is expected that he would be called to defend himself against these set of allegations.
 
The anti-corruption crusader concluded by positing that “Nigerians have been taken for a ride for far too long. This is why we are urging the current Buhari administration to set a new precedent for things to be done differently by clamping down on all known corrupt persons who have plundered our commonwealth shamelessly and with impunity no matter how powerful, how influential or how crafty such persons may be.”
 
“We are following these reports, we are not ignorant and we would not relent in our efforts to keep demanding that the anti-graft agencies present to the public convictions from the numerous allegations and petitions that have made the news in the past year.” 
 
 
Chisnum Yenum
Acting Media Officer, CACOL
08141121208
November 29, 2016
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
 
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CORRUPTION ‘BANTERS’ OBASANJO Vs LEGISLATORS: KETTLE CALLING THE POT, BLACK! – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has said that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, lacks the moral grounds to label any government, institutions, agencies, individuals as corrupt, considering the unresolved and lingering suspected corrupt acts perpetrated by the retired Army General.

The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran said “to put it aptly, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s anti-corruption stance is pure hypocrisy and akin to ‘the kettle, calling the pot black’. We can say this even at the risk of sounding ‘supportive’ of the gluttonous  legislators who have frankly admitted as reported in the media to being ‘corrupt grandchildren of a corrupt grandfather’; both sides of the divide are indeed culpable in the infestation of corruption in the fabrics of our society. They are two sides of the same coin, actually!”
“We recall how all efforts to get Obasanjo to answer to allegations of corrupt practices over the Halliburton and Siemens Scandal against him were met with consciously and tactically placed obstacles that have shielded the former President from judicial and public scrutiny of his roles in the saga till date.”
The media had been awash recently with exchanges of banters dwelling on the ‘more corrupt’ between the loquacious ex-President and the legislature, with the earlier describing the latter as ‘a den of unarmed robbers’. In responding, some legislators have said that Obasanjo is the ‘grandfather of corruption’ in Nigeria.
In a brief narrative of what CACOL had done in the past on Obasanjo and his suspected corruption cases, Adeniran said “our Coalition submitted a petition against former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo (Rtd) to the EFCC on November 14th, 2007 at the Lagos Zonal Office on offences bordering on alleged conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds and abuse of office, foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering.”
 
“Following the submission and defense of our petition, an investigative panel was set up to look into the issues raised by our Coalition. Till date, we are still tracking the case and have even written to the EFCC as recently as May, this year for updates, but nothing is forthcoming.”
 
“We found it worrisome; indeed, when we discovered that a report on our petition that the EFCC had not officially released found its way into General Obasanjo’s Book titled ‘My Watch’, in which the former President published a purported report of the investigation panel (page 431 – 465). We had wondered why it was only the former President that appeared to have seen the report while the other stakeholders and the populace remain in the dark and groping. The experience definitely speaks volumes on why some apparently corrupt elements in our midst remain ‘powerful’, ‘untouchable’ and very well ‘above the law’ in spite of the fact that, constitutional footing/s for such status does not exist!” Adeniran added
 
“Were it not against this sort of background, Obasanjo and his ‘grandchildren’ in the legislature ought to bury the heads in shame. A morally upright person would be more comfortable with clearing his name of the corruption allegations against him before pointing fingers. Four fingers are pointing right back at Obasanjo in whichever direction he points a finger to, in the decadence that presently obtains, for being profoundly suspect in the Nigerian situation almost on all plains.”
 
“The ongoing banters are insensitive and insulting to the people’s sensibilities. For the umpteenth time we call on the Attorney General of the Federation, the EFCC and other agencies to re-open the Halliburton and Siemens scandal case promptly, a case that has remained unresolved till date.“ He concluded
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 25, 2016
 
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
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8,863 GHOST WORKERS IN KWARA: CACOL REITERATES THE NEED TO EXPOSE AND PUNISH CULPRITS BEHIND THE ‘GHOST WORKERS’ FRAUD

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has described the undying issue of ‘ghost workers’ in the country as an unfortunate trend that has bedeviled the Nigerian Public service sector for long, following the recent discovery of 8,863 cases in Kwara state while also asserting that the fraudulent act is also perpetrated in many other states in Nigeria.

 
It was revealed recently in media reports that, 8,863 suspected ghost workers on the payroll of both the state and local governments were discovered by the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, in an audit carried out in the state.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL Mr. Debo Adeniran, in reacting to the discovery, condemned the phenomenon called ‘ghost workers’ and called on the Kwara State Government to ensure that culprits behind the fraud are all brought to book immediately.
 
He lauded the Kwara State Government for fishing out 8,863 ghost workers. He said, “according to available information, the discovery will save the State about N437, 500, 513.56 monthly. But merely discovering ‘ghost workers’ is not enough if the ‘unseen’ faces behind the corrupt act are not uncovered. The criminals behind the scenes must be unmasked and made to face the wrath of the law to abate a syndrome that has apparently become ‘institutionalized’ in our country.”
 
Continuing Mr. Adeniran said, “this thoroughly corrupt act has been happening in the country for too long, we cannot afford to allow it to further endure. If 8,863 jobless graduates of Kwara State had been employed legitimately for the positions occupied ghost workers, unemployment would have been drastically reduced in the State, but the corruption criminals would not allow that to happen.”
 
He insisted that ‘’the ‘ghost worker’ phenomenon is not self-induced; that powerful forces are behind it, therefore the government at the Federal and state levels should through the relevant agencies; the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Federal and state Ministries of Finance etc. investigate and expose those ‘behind the scene’ in this infamous ‘ghost worker’ story; prosecute them and ensure that those found wanting are punished.’’
 
‘’Previously, we had called on the ICPC to scrutinize the Civil Service; a call we are repeating, we know that the ‘ghost worker’ stories that we have listened to for so long did not happen without the involvement of the Civil Service and Civil Servants. The monumental lootings of our treasury could not have happened without the collaborating hands of civil servants, they participate actively in sleaze for their own pecuniary gains! There is no other way to justify the civil servants whom their earnings do not corroborate the wealth which they display with rabid impunity across the country.’’ Mr Adeniran concluded
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 23, 2016
 
 
 
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PATIENCE JONATHAN SHOULD HAVE HER DAY IN COURT, BUT THE $15.5M ACCOUNTS MUST REMAIN FROZEN UNTIL THE END OF JUDICIAL PROCESS – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has described the ambience around the $15.5m money laundry scam involving the wife of the immediate past President, Patience Jonathan as that which exemplifies the scenario where the so-called high and mighty wield their ‘immunity’ with bare-faced impunity and effrontery even in the face glaring constitutional dictates that stipulates otherwise.
 
A Federal High Court recently rejected an application by the former First Lady urging the court to order the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC to withdraw the ‘No Debit Order’ it placed on the accounts holding the monies purported to be owned by Mrs. Jonathan.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran when reacting to media reports on the issue stated that “the controversies surrounding Patience Jonathan, the EFCC and the sum allegedly laundered has been stretched for far too long without any meaningful twist toward a logical conclusion. What we are witnessing is a continuum of an embarrassing tug of war between the EFCC, a body constitutionally charged with combating financial and economic crimes and Patience Jonathan, a Nigerian bounded by the constitution like every other Nigerian.”
 
“At this point, it now behoves on the EFCC to fulfill its constitutional role of by establishing an ‘airtight’ case based on concrete evidences against Patience Jonathan if they exist. Apart from focusing at preventing access to the controversial funds, the EFCC must go ahead to carry out thorough investigations and diligently prosecute the cases against Madam Jonathan like it is constitutionally empowered to do. By now, Mrs. Patience Jonathan ought to been invited for questioning just like any other Nigerian who may be suspected of having committed an illegality.”
 
Also involved in the Patience Jonathan suit, are Warampo Dudafa, an ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and the four companies whose representatives already pleaded guilty and subsequently convicted for the money laundry scam. This latest suit instituted by Mrs. Jonathan was intended to make the court to order the EFCC to unfreeze the accounts and grant her access to the money in question.
 
Adeniran called on the EFCC to exercise every constitutional powers to freeze any bank accounts with suspicious transactions and amounts until they are cleared of suspicions. He said, “the agency should be tactful and decisive in carrying out its constitutional functions to achieve convictions, because that is what will serve as strong deterrent against corruption.”
 
The anti-corruption crusader also called for accelerated hearings of the cases involving the former First Lady and all other corruption cases that are pending in different courts. He concluded stating that, “at the end the anti-corruption drive would be futile if after all the show of activities, corruption criminals are do not get convicted under the Buhari administration in spite of the anti-corruption stance of the regime. The EFFC need not to be intimidated by falsely acquired “immunity” against probe, questioning, investigation or arrest. No one is above the law! We expect the anti-corruption agencies to exert their powers as provided for by the constitution to overcome any intimidation in performing their duties. No law says Patience Jonathan is “untouchable” or can’t be prosecuted.
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 23, 2016
 
 
 
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BUHARI’S OUTCRY ON CORRUPTION FIGHTING BACK: INTENSIFY ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE NOW! – CACOL

President Muhammadu Buhari, was recently reported to have expressed frustrations on the anti-corruption drive being prosecuted by regime stating that some persons who have enriched themselves through corrupt means are now using those stolen funds in their fight-back against the war against corruption.

 
The President’s Media Aide, Femi Adesina, told reporters that Buhari spoke at a meeting with the American Secretary of State, John Kerry, on the margins of conference on climate change, COP22, in Marrakech, Morocco where he stated that corruption was fighting back vigorously but gave the assurance that surely it is a war that would be won.
 
Following this, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has said the President’s statement is one which shows will but also reflect weaknesses that call for introspection as far as regime’s the anti-corruption drive is concerned.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran posited that, “the President’s statement portrays that the government should move beyond lamentations and confront the corrupt elements who are fighting back. It is should not be a thing of surprise to the President that corruption fights back wherever it is fought. Thus, any serious anti-corruption drive would have envisaged corruption fighting back and would have prepared methodologies to confront such manifestations.
 
“It is like telling the obvious by saying that the Nigerian government and public service has for a very long time been dominated by corrupt officials and public servants, making the fight against corruption a difficult one given the humongous ill-gotten wealth at the disposal of these beneficiaries of sleaze and sharp practices.” Adeniran added.
 
Continuing, he said, “therefore, what the government needs to do, is not allow already anticipated challenges of the fight against corruption to impede the movement and momentum of the war against corruption beyond expressions of frustrations.”
 
“Basically, the anti-corruption agencies need to be strengthened with sufficient funding, manpower, and there must be training and re-training of personnel. Also, reforms of some laws inhibiting the work of anti-corruption agencies and the enactment of new laws must be done to facilitate an environment where corrupt elements will not be able to escape the wrath of the law willy-nilly.”
 
“President Buhari should realize the strength of the constitution and use it to the maximum, if there are laws that should be improved upon, then constitutional processes should be utilized to seek amendmendents to make the fight against corruption effective and with respect for fundamental human rights. We are asking the President to do the needful to intensify the crackdown on corruption.” He concluded.
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 18, 2016
 
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
 
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REPORT OF VALIDATION CONFERENCE ON THE LAGOS OPEN PARLIAMENT 3 (LOP3) ORGANISED BY THE COALITION AGAINST CORRUPT LEADERS, CACOL

BACKGROUND
 
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 held a Validation Conference, a part of it’s governance performance monitoring project tagged ‘Lagos Open Parliament 3, LOP3’ at Ladio Hotel & Suites in the Ijaiye – Ojokoro area of Lagos state.
 
The validation conference is one of the 3 conferences held in the activities that precede the launching of the Lagos Open Parliament 3, LOP 3 publication. The purpose of the event was to present to the general public the findings of the Coalition pertaining to government performance in Lagos State under the leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
 
The conference witnessed the presentation of data, findings, and testimonies gathered in the LOP3 process for validation, refutation/invalidation and other updates.
 
Participants included representatives drawn from; the 20 local government areas in Lagos state, the Media, Civil society organizations, government agencies etc.
Several events are embedded in the process of the LOP; these include administering of questionnaires; compilation and analysis of data and news items (TV, radio, newspapers, online news and social media). Three interactive conferences are also held within the process of the LOP i.e. Exploratory, Validation and Public Presentation Conferences (launch). The Public Presentation marks the end of the process.
 
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the conference are to;
·         Involve major stakeholders including; Lagos state government representatives, Lagosians from Local government areas, civil society organizations, and the Media in the LOP3 process.
·         Present data, findings and testimonies gathered in the LOP3 process for validation, refutation/invalidation and other updates.
 
 
 
OPENING REMARKS BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF CACOL, MR. DEBO ADENIRAN
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL welcomed and thanked all the participants for honouring the invitation to be part of the validation conference stating that their attendance was crucial to the purpose of the event.
 
He briefed the audience on the fundamental objectives of the Lagos Open Parliament. He informed that the validation conference was the penultimate to the publication of the Lagos Open Parliament.
 
In giving a brief background, the Executive Chairman explained that the first edition of the Lagos Open Parliament launched in 2011 which was tagged ‘True State of Lagos by Lagosians’ raised a number of controversy in the public as people thought it was aimed at rubbishing the ‘achievements’ of the Babatunde  RajiFashola administration. This then necessitated investigations into the premises of this claimed ‘achievements’ of the former governor and subsequently led to the publication of the second edition of LOP in 2014. He debunked the accusations that the Coalition sort to undermine the former governor’s achievements and stated that after due inquiries into projects that were undertaken within the state, it was discovered that the government failed in executing most capital projects and that Lagos was governed under false pretenses.
 
In his conclusion, the Chairman explained that it is the findings from researches and other activities of the LOP process that leads to the final publication at the end of each period reviewed. The LOP is a means of enhancing participatory governance, expanding the democratic space to facilitate responsiveness, accountability and transparency.
 
HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESENTATIONS
·         The questionnaire – a multi-media presentation of the questionnaire that was utilized to survey the opinions, views and complaints of Lagosians to elucidate it as one of the basis upon which the LOP3 is predicated
·         Table of questionnaire findings, charts – a multi-media presentation of the findings and deductions from the LOP3 questionnaire in percentages, pie charts and bar charts
·         Media findings – a multi-media presentation of news reports culled from newspapers and the social media on governance and infrastructural development in Lagos state  
·         Multi-media presentation of pictorials from across Lagos on state and stages of infrastructural development
 
 
VALIDATION SESSION (interaction and information sharing) – testimonies, updates, refutations, invalidations, verifications, questions, comments etc.
 
The Validation conference which was preceded by an Exploratory Conference held on the 30th of August 2016, focused on general governance performance and project executions under the Lagos state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led Lagos state government for the period of May 29, 2015 to October, 2016.
 
During the Validation Conference, there was an evaluation of questionnaires that focused on the conditions of infrastructures; the security challenges; and the quality of State services in terms of health and education. There was also data analysis and review of the questionnaires which was illustrated in graphical formats to show the frequencies of answers by respondents within Lagos state.
 
The session witnessed questions, comments and updates from participants on the presentations. It was pointed out that certain issues were not captured in the presentations. The controversy over the ‘sale’ or ‘concessioning’ of Alade Market at Ikeja and the demolition houses in Lekki were cited as examples.
 
Participants also gave updates the current state of projects and impact of government in their respective locations. Some projects were reported to have been completed while many are still at different stages of execution with none reported to have been abandoned.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL in his response explained that the issues that are not captured in LOP3 could be because the research process had already been concluded before the developments arose. He explained that such matters like the Alade market controversy would be featured in the next LOP. He further stated that since the publication of the Lagos Open Parliament was periodic, any issue that was left out of one would most certainly be addressed in the following edition.
 
The Chairman concluded the conference by informing that recommendations stemming from the CACOL’s findings made to the current administration in Lagos state would be published in the LOP3.
 
The essence he stated is to advise the government of Lagos on issues which are imperative to the living conditions of citizens within the state while emphasizing that CACOL’s goal via the LOP is basically targeted at; monitoring government performances and policies, promoting transparency and accountability and enhancing healthy interface between the civil society and government in the overall interest of the development of Lagos State as an entity.
 
The Validation Conference ended with a vote of thanks given by Comrade Adesina Ishola  
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N3.6bn PURCHASE OF EXOTIC CARS BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS INSENSITIVE TO THE STATE OF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL have condemned the purchase of vehicles by members of the House Of Representatives, describing it as a show of insensitivity to the current economic plight of Nigerians. According to reports, 360 units of Peugeot 508 series are to be delivered to the House in batches that would amount to the sum of N3.6bn. The reports further suggests about 28 cars of the 50 making up the first batch have been delivered to the legislative body.

 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, described the acquisition of cars by the parliament as an insensitive given the parlous state of the economy of the country. He said, “the government in its entirety is often guilty of insensitivity to the living conditions of the vast majority of Nigerians. There is a regular disconnect that makes it seem like the government is ignorant and unperturbed by the standard of living of many Nigerians. Given the current economic conditions of the country, much emphasis should have been placed on debating our way out of this unfortunate phenomenon called recession. But what we have are a bunch of shallow and self-centred individuals doing a comparative cost analysis on their own comfort and forgetting the interests of those they ought to be representing.”
 
“From reports, each car would cost N10m and the House already allocated for them in the 2016 budget. It should be noted that 223 out of the 360 members of the House are new members having been elected in the general polls of 2015. Hence, all members would be a beneficiary of this costly legislative scheme.”
 
Continuing, Adeniran posited that “the procurement of this set of vehicles was not prompted out of necessity but it was barely necessitated by the prevailing trend of misplacing priorities that is often affiliated with our government. In this alarming economic conditions we are all witnessing, the focus should be on cutting down the cost of governance and finding out ways which monies like this could be used to boost the declining industries in the country. The members of the legislative body of the country should realise that Nigerians didn’t vote them into power to allocate wealth to themselves so that they can live as prince and princesses while the majority of Nigerians wallow in poverty and barely surviving on a dollar per day.”
 
The anti-corruption crusader further stated that “it is heart rending to see these law makers never hesitate when deliberating on how much money they allocate for themselves but when it comes to issues of national importance that could change the lives of Nigerians for good, they often start playing the political and the ethno-religious cards.”
 
Adeniran concluded stating emphatically that “If the government wants Nigerians to tighten their belts as is often preached then it should start with the government officials. We can no longer condone this house of wastage.” 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 14, 2016
 
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at