[Nigeria] Massive payroll fraud discovered in Presidential Amnesty Programme

Auditors in Nigeria have uncovered a massive payroll fraud in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), according to the programme’s Strategic Communication Committee (SCC), The Nation reports.

The programme’s stated objective is to mitigate youth restiveness and stabilise, consolidate and sustain security conditions in the Niger Delta Region; allowing socioeconomic and infrastructural development.

SCC Chairman, Nature Dumale Kieghe, spoke at the weekend in Bayelsa State. He cited the case of an individual who was collecting stipends intended for 33 people.

Mr Dumale - an ex-agitator - reportedly said that around 513 individuals were linked to multiple payments. He added that the new management of PAP was ready to overhaul the scheme to optimise performance.

He said that, following the development, the Interim Administrator - Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu - had initiated verification of all PAP beneficiaries as part of the ongoing investigation.

Mr Dumale explained that some beneficiaries had yet to receive their monthly stipends as a result of the audit and Gen. Ndiomu’s efforts to clean the payroll, adding that all affected and genuine outstanding stipends would be paid once verification was completed.

Mr Dumale said Gen. Ndiomu’s efforts were proactive; when he assumed office the amnesty boss renegotiated all existing contracts with vendors, saving PAP N1.5 billion.

He said, “Ndiomu initiated an internal and external audit of PAP’s database. The auditors uncovered monumental fraud, especially in the payment of stipends where an individual is receiving stipends meant for 33 persons through fraudulent means.

“The proactive interim administrator has ordered immediate verification of all delegates to be carried out next week. Delegates are to rest assured that whoever is verified will be paid immediately.

“Upon assumption of office, Gen Ndiomu (retd) initiated plans to renegotiate the existing contracts with vendors. In the process, he has been able to save over N1.5 billion”.

Mr Dumale reportedly said that Gen. Ndiomu had concluded plans to establish cooperatives to be managed by ex-agitators and supervised by consultants and experts in grant management.

“The ex-agitators will be given grants of over N500million and revolving loans. They are to take responsibility for the success of the cooperatives. International donor agencies will be involved in providing grants and aid. He has opened channels of discussions with the foreign loans.”

Mr Dumale said that, five months after his appointment, Gen. Ndiomu had replaced the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) model with the Train, Empower and Exit (TEE) to allow empowered beneficiaries to leave the programme.

He added, “Gen. Ndiomu is committed to the idea of transforming the lives of the ex-agitators through innovative and structured training schemes.

“It is imperative to inform members of the public that Ndiomu has not delisted anybody but is working round the clock to sanitise the PAP register for the good of not only the ex-agitators but also the Niger Delta region.” 

Mr Dumale reportedly called on aggrieved ex-agitators to suspend planned actions against the PAP management and support Gen. Ndiomu’s efforts to sanitise the programme.

Source: The Nation

(Quotes via original reporting)

Auditors in Nigeria have uncovered a massive payroll fraud in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), according to the programme’s Strategic Communication Committee (SCC), The Nation reports.

The programme’s stated objective is to mitigate youth restiveness and stabilise, consolidate and sustain security conditions in the Niger Delta Region; allowing socioeconomic and infrastructural development.

SCC Chairman, Nature Dumale Kieghe, spoke at the weekend in Bayelsa State. He cited the case of an individual who was collecting stipends intended for 33 people.

Mr Dumale - an ex-agitator - reportedly said that around 513 individuals were linked to multiple payments. He added that the new management of PAP was ready to overhaul the scheme to optimise performance.

He said that, following the development, the Interim Administrator - Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu - had initiated verification of all PAP beneficiaries as part of the ongoing investigation.

Mr Dumale explained that some beneficiaries had yet to receive their monthly stipends as a result of the audit and Gen. Ndiomu’s efforts to clean the payroll, adding that all affected and genuine outstanding stipends would be paid once verification was completed.

Mr Dumale said Gen. Ndiomu’s efforts were proactive; when he assumed office the amnesty boss renegotiated all existing contracts with vendors, saving PAP N1.5 billion.

He said, “Ndiomu initiated an internal and external audit of PAP’s database. The auditors uncovered monumental fraud, especially in the payment of stipends where an individual is receiving stipends meant for 33 persons through fraudulent means.

“The proactive interim administrator has ordered immediate verification of all delegates to be carried out next week. Delegates are to rest assured that whoever is verified will be paid immediately.

“Upon assumption of office, Gen Ndiomu (retd) initiated plans to renegotiate the existing contracts with vendors. In the process, he has been able to save over N1.5 billion”.

Mr Dumale reportedly said that Gen. Ndiomu had concluded plans to establish cooperatives to be managed by ex-agitators and supervised by consultants and experts in grant management.

“The ex-agitators will be given grants of over N500million and revolving loans. They are to take responsibility for the success of the cooperatives. International donor agencies will be involved in providing grants and aid. He has opened channels of discussions with the foreign loans.”

Mr Dumale said that, five months after his appointment, Gen. Ndiomu had replaced the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) model with the Train, Empower and Exit (TEE) to allow empowered beneficiaries to leave the programme.

He added, “Gen. Ndiomu is committed to the idea of transforming the lives of the ex-agitators through innovative and structured training schemes.

“It is imperative to inform members of the public that Ndiomu has not delisted anybody but is working round the clock to sanitise the PAP register for the good of not only the ex-agitators but also the Niger Delta region.” 

Mr Dumale reportedly called on aggrieved ex-agitators to suspend planned actions against the PAP management and support Gen. Ndiomu’s efforts to sanitise the programme.

Source: The Nation

(Quotes via original reporting)