CSO Petitions ICPC Over Misappropriation of PWDs’ Funds at Federal Ministry of Women Affairs

The Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development(PRIMORG) has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate reported misappropriation of N275million on non-existing Rehabilitation Institute for Persons with Disabilities(PWDs) by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social.

The demand was contained in a petition received at ICPC Headquarters Monday in Abuja, titled: REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION ON THE REPORTED MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITAION FORMERLY WITH FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BUT NOW AT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT, and signed by the Executive Director, PRIMORG, Okhiria Agbonsuremi.

The Civil society organization which was established with the mission to promote accountability, transparency as well as citizen’s engagement, popular participation and inclusiveness in governance in Nigeria, was displeased and exasperated by the fraud reportedly perpetrated against persons with disabilities by a government ministry and the failure of the ministry indicted to respond to the allegations.

According to the petition, PRIMORG during their weekly radio program amplified the report which was investigated by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) for two weeks in a row before robustly discussing it in a radio town hall meeting against corruption where persons with disabilities poured out their challenges occasioned by systemic corruption.

Interacting with journalists, PRIMORG’s Program Manager, Adaobi Obiabunmuo, noted that PRIMORG duly invited the duo of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to the radio programs to explain their roles but they didn’t response till date.

“Our project operational procedure, in ensuring due diligence, is in engaging all stakeholders involved in any report to stimulate public engagement and action,” Obiabunmuo added.

She, however, decried the massive corruption existing almost in every public office in the country and the fact that vulnerable Nigerians are at the receiving end of it, while urging the ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye to do all in his power to investigate the report and bring any individual or institution found wanting to account.

CHIDOZIE OGBONNAYA
Media and Communications Officer
PRIMORG