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Character, Integrity Crucial To Fight Against Corruption In Public Sector, Says Financial Expert

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Public finance expert and Special Adviser to Enugu State governor on Financial Matters, Prof Paschal Okolie, has called for a reorientation in the character and integrity of public servants and Nigerians with a view to fighting corruption in the nation’s public service.

Prof. Okolie made the call in Akwa, Anambra State capital, at a two-day
Audit Reporting Training workshop for journalists, organised by FrontFoot Media Initiative as part part of Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and the sponsorship of the MacArthur Foundation.

READ ALSO: FrontFoot Trains Journalists On Accountability, Audit Reporting

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According to the financial expert, corruption has remained a bane despite many changes in the law and IT-driven applications for financial management in the country since 2010.

Okolie compared Nigeria to the Great Wall of China that enemies breached because of human failure in character and integrity.

He also observed that many states were yet to implement policies such as the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the Open Government Partnership Agenda aimed at promoting accountability in public financial management.

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Experts say only 15 of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT signed up for the Open Government Partnership programme.

Okolie stated, “Evidence abounds that unless the issues of character and integrity are addressed, Nigeria will continue to be challenged by corruption
arising from deficient application of the principles and practice of auditing and prudent, transparent and accountable financial management in the
Nigerian public sector”.

He commended efforts by the federal and state governments to tackle the legal and technical challenges through enforcing financial and operational
autonomy for the office of the Auditor-General through the amendment of the Audit Law establishing the Audit Service Commission that will operate
like the Civil Service Commission and approval of ICT-driven initiatives of
IPSAS, TSA and SFTAS.

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He commended efforts by the federal and state governments to tackle the legal and technical challenges through enforcing financial and operational
autonomy for the office of the Auditor-General through the amendment of the Audit Law establishing the Audit Service Commission that will operate
like the Civil Service Commission and approval of ICT-driven initiatives of IPSAS, TSA and SFTAS.

INFO DAILY reports that challenges of public sector financial management in Nigeria include poor institutional governance, manpower development issues, weak oversight, corruption, and character and integrity, according to Okolie.

READ ALSO: Experts Charge Media Practitioners, Auditors To Promote Accountability

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On his part, Sonala Olumhense, who spoke from the USA emphasized on the Imperative of Audit Reporting for Nigerian Journalism.

Also speaking at the workshop were FrontFoot Media Initiative chairman Sully Abu, managing director Emeka Izeze, as well as training coordinator Chido Nwakanma.

Forty-two journalists participated in the workshop and they resolved to
critically examine state audit reports and tell stories from their contents, as well as report where states contravene the law by not submitting and publishing audit reports.

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‘I Caught My Wife Walking Hand In Hand With Her Lover’

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…She told me they were divorced 15 years ago — Lover

A Soldier of Kabwe, Zambia, has been awarded K18,000 as compensation after the local court upheld his adultery claim against a man he found holding hands with his wife one night in Kapiri Mposhi.

Michael Bwalya, a resident of C Gate in Kabwe, narrated before Senior Local Court magistrate, Elias Kasonde, at Kabwe One Local Court how he caught Maybin Myula with his wife, Rose Bwalya, in a compromising situation.

According to Zambia Observer, Michael told the court that he was first alerted by his eldest daughter, who informed him that his wife had a “husband” in Kapiri Mposhi.

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READ ALSO:Why I Cheated On My Husband — Wife

Michael then travelled to Kapiri Mposhi with two companions, Sylvia Phiri and Humphrey Kayambe, to confirm the claims.

He said that after arriving around 20:00 hours, he was stunned to find his wife walking hand in hand with Maybin.

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The moment they saw me, he released her hand. I was so upset, but I kept calm,” he told the court.

Michael said he followed the pair to Maybin’s house, where Maybin allegedly told him that Rose had claimed to be divorced for the past 15 years.

READ ALSO:Australian Govt Official Declares ‘Red Wednesday’ Over Attack On Kwara Church

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I told them they should consider themselves married. I was so furious I almost killed him, but I restrained myself,” he said.

In his defense, Maybin denied committing adultery, claiming he was only escorting Rose to buy medicine.

However, the magistrate, Kasonde found Maybin guilty and ordered him to compensate Michael K18,000, to be paid in monthly installments of K1,000.

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VDM: Anyone Who Fights Inside Aircraft Deserves Life Imprisonment – Portable

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Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has reacted to the viral clash between activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and comedian, Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi, better known as Mr Jollof, saying anyone who engages in a fight inside an aircraft deserves life imprisonment.

In a viral video shared on social media, Portable condemned the act and questioned why anyone would choose to fight on board a plane.

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He said, “Anybody weh fight inside plane, whether na locally or internationally, na ewon gbere (life imprisonment). You go end your life in prison ni ooo, like billionaires dey enter plane, you wan dey fear rich people?, you see your enemy for ground oooo, you no fight am, you see am when you dey board, you no fight am oo, why you dey fight am inside plane.”

Portable also mocked both men as he analysed the fight, “VeryDarkman and Mr Jollof, I see where VeryDarkMan dey jollof Mr Jollof, dey use blow dey jollof am, and even VeryDarkMan no sabi throw blow, Mr Jollof energy cover your body, your body just big for nothing, you use your body cover the man, I hear say Mr Jollof turn your body to chicken.”

He added that even with claims that VeryDarkMan once allegedly received money to confront him, the activist still struggled in the fight with Mr. Jollof.

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Recall that Tribune Online reported that Social media influencers VeryDarkMan and Mr. Jollof on Monday engaged in a heated physical altercation on a United Nigeria Airlines flight from Asaba to Lagos.

Eyewitnesses reported that the disagreement escalated into a mild brawl, with crew members and passengers attempting to intervene.

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FULL LIST: FG Shuts 41 Unity Schools Over Insecurity

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The Federal Government on Friday ordered the temporary closure of 41 unity schools over the rising cases of abduction across the country.

The decision was announced in a circular issued by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir.

“Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Honourable Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed Federal Unity Colleges.

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“Principals of the affected colleges are to ensure strict compliance. Please accept the warm regards of the Honourable Minister,” the circular read.

READ ALSO:Why FG Hasn’t Prosecuted Terrorism Financiers – Minister

The affected schools are FGGC Minjibir; FGA Suleja; FTC Ganduje; FGGC Zaria; FTC Kafancha; FGGC Bakori; FTC Dayi; FGC Daura; FGGC Tambuwal; FSC Sokoto; FTC Wurno; FGC Gusau; FGC Anka; FGGC Gwandu; FGC Birnin Yauri; FTC Zuru; FGGC Kazaure; FGC Kiyawa; FTC Hadejia; FGGC Bida; FGC New Bussa; and FTC Kuta-Shiroro.

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Others are FGC Ilorin; FGGC Omu-Aran; FTC Gwanara; FGC Ugwolawo; FGGC Kabba; FTC Ogugu; FGGC Bwari; FGC Rubochi; FGGC Abaji; FGGC Potiskum; FGC Buni Yadi; FTC Gashau; FTC Michika; FGC Ganye; FGC Azare; FTC Misau; FGGC Bajoga; FGC Billiri; and FTC Zambuk.

Recall that some students from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, were kidnapped by terrorists.

READ ALSO:Workers Kick Against FG’s Health Insurance Deductions From Salaries

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The incident comes just days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, heightening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across the region.

On Thursday, over 50 schools were shut down in Kwara State following attacks by bandits.

President Bola Tinubu had also cancelled his scheduled trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate the government’s response to the worsening insecurity.

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