Some officials of the National
Social investment programme (NSIP) in Adogo headquarter of Ajaokuta Local
Government Area of Kogi State have been allegedly accused of extorting NPower
applicants in the name of physical verification.
An investigative report by Wadata
Media in collaboration with Mac Arthur foundation, which was aired on a private
radio station in Kogi state on Thursday revealed
that some NSIP officials collected N1000 each from over 500 applicants as fees
for attestation for the compulsory physical verification exercise for all the
NPOWER applicant.
It was gathered that the
purported attestation letter was allegedly signed and stamped by the Desk
officer of NSIP in Ajaokuta Local Government Shaibu Ovosi Yakubu.
The undercover journalist who
also posed as an NPower applicant provided an audio exhibit in which the
officials at Adogo secretariat were heard negotiating N1000 for the attestation
letter.
The report had alleged a similar
corrupt act at the same secretariat during the NPOWER batch A and B exercise.
Some applicants in the report
said” they collected N1000 from us all in the name of attestation for our
NPOWER physical verification. We called some of our people in other Local
Government and state, they told us that it is free. Why is this place
different? We are very sure that the money is going to their private pocket and
not the government because we were told it is free. We have no choice but to
pay because without crossing this bridge, we can’t participate in this NPOWER
exercise”.
In a reaction, the Kogi State
Focal Person, Social investment Program, Mr Abdulkareem Onyekehi, said only six
local government areas out of the 21 local government areas in Kogi State have
commenced the physical verification for Batch C Npower.
He said Ajaokuta was not part of
the local governments that have commenced physical verification.
Onyekehi explained that the
purported physical verification exercise carried out in Adogo under Ajaokuta
local government is fraudulent and should be disregarded by the general public.
He maintained that no applicant
is expected to pay money to any individual in the name of physical verification
for Npower.
His words “It is totally wrong.
It is a clear violation of what the NPOWER stands for. Whoever that collects
money from applicants is not working under the guideline of NPOWER program. The
Abuja Office didn’t instruct anybody to collect money from applicants. It is
free of charge. I repeat again, physical verification is free.
“No levy is attached. As a matter
of fact, Ajaokuta Local Government Area is not ready to commence physical
verification for now. Only six LGA’s after my communication with the Kogi State
NYSC director is ready for NPOWER physical verification. They are Lokoja LGA,
Ibaji, Igalamela, Kogi LGA, and one other Local Government Area.
“These are the few LGA’S that are
ready for physical verification. The reason why other LGA’S has not commenced
is that the Batch 2 corp members are still in camp with their officials. When
they leave the camp by 21st September 2021, according to my discussion with
their state director, they will commence physical verification. For now, that
is where we are. There is no physical verification in Adogo, under Ajaokuta
Local Government, talk more of collecting charges. It is free”
The State Focal person, however,
vowed to carry out an investigation into the allegation assuring that whoever
is found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, a former Chairman,
Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Barrister William Aliwo while speaking on the
alleged corrupt act called on the appropriate authority to ensure that those
behind this shameful act are brought to book.
Mr Okoro Ulu, the Kogi State
Commissioner, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences, (ICPC)
told our correspondent explained that they are yet to receive any petition on
the matter.
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