Buhari Bans Ministers From Approving Payment For Contracts #NekxFresh

President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination
to reduce corruption in governance seem to have
begun.

The president has issued a warning to his incoming
ministers to stay away from approving payments for
contractors. The ministers are expected to be
appointed in the coming weeks.

The government new policy clearly states that only
the heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies
are saddled with such responsibilities.

According to the Head of Service of the Federation
(HoSF), Danladi Kifasi, the Buhari government wants
to keep the political class away from issues of
finance. He made the disclosure recently at a media
briefing in Abuja.
He said: “If a minister travels out and payment is due, we cannot afford to wait for the ministers to come back before we pay.”

Findings by Saturday Vanguard revealed that the
HoSF was instructed to make the statement following a constant clash between permanent secretaries of major Federal Government ministries and former ministers in the Jonathan government over the payment of contractors.

Most permanent secretaries and directors of
accounts in the ministries fell out with many of the
former ministers following their refusal to pay
contractors favoured by them.

The Buhari government has however reversed the
trend, warning that henceforth, no permanent
secretary should allow any minister handle the award and payment for contracts.
The HoSF made it clear that approval of payments for contracts are to be handled by directors of the major ministries and accounting officers.