The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered evidence of job racketeering in some ministries and agencies across Nigeria, promising to take decisive action against those involved in the coming days.

The ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, made this disclosure on Saturday during a high-level seminar held to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day.

Aliyu lauded the resistance of Nigerian youths to corruption, describing their stance as a positive indicator of the country’s future.

The ICPC Chairman also addressed the issue of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, asserting that it remains a priority for the commission.

Aliyu emphasized that combating corruption in all its forms, including job racketeering and abuse of power, is essential for fostering national development and trust in public institutions.

In other news, ICPC has stressed the need for the people to end corruption in Nigeria before the practice does more harm to the country.

The anti-graft agency asserted that corruption has severely undermined Nigeria’s economic and social fabric, urging citizens to demonstrate the bravery necessary to expose corrupt practices.

Ekere Usiere, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for the Commission, emphasized this during an event in Yenagoa commemorating Anti-Corruption Day.

In her presentation titled From Fear To Courage: Overcoming Barriers To Whistleblowing In Nigeria, Usiere warned that without the courage to confront corruption, Nigeria faces the peril of being overwhelmed by it in the foreseeable future.

The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has stated that his stance remains the same on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.

Lawmaker had earlier condemned the timing of the bills, arguing that the focus should be on governance reforms before tax reforms.

Speaking further on the situation during an interview with Punch, Ndume insisted that the withdrawal of the bill is the best decision for the executive to allow for wider consultation.

He said, “This issue of VAT and derivation is one of the major issues in the bills. Also, why introduce a taxing system instead of solving critical issues like problems with the budget?”

He further explained that the country spent over 50 per cent of its budget on recurrent expenditure and debt servicing.

“Yes, reform. But even with reforms, you have to prioritise, time it correctly, and ensure the buy-in of Nigerians because this is a democracy. It is the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. We should be looking at cutting down our recurrent expenditure if we are trying to save money, not tax.

“I have studied this thing. I have given it to the professionals, even the lecturers of those who are promoting it, those people who taught them. I approached some of them and they said ‘Look, this tax reform is good, it is good to do tax reform but the timing is wrong,” he said.

Ndume added, “The introduction of the tax bills at the time is an unneeded distraction to the country. It is just unnecessarily heating the polity. That is why I am advocating that the executive withdraw the bills, consult wider, and take out the parts that clash with the Constitution.

“They are just confusing themselves with these bills that contradict the Constitution. So, seeing all of their errors, I think that they should just withdraw the bills, do the proper things, and resend them to the National Assembly for consideration.”

Ndume argued that Northern senators are not divided, adding that anyone who supports the passage of the bills should come and openly say so.

He said, “We are not divided, Northern senators who are in support of the bills should come out openly and bear their fathers’ names. I have openly expressed my stance on the bills, they also should do the same.

“Even if we, who are opposed to the bills, are in the minority, the majority will have their way, but the minority will have their say.”

The Labour Party has announced its decision to initiate legal action to reclaim the seats of four lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party criticized the lawmakers for retaining their parliamentary positions after switching allegiance to the ruling party.

Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, disclosed this during an interview with The PUNCH.

His statement follows the defection of the lawmakers, whose letters of resignation were read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday.

The defectors—Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau)—have been accused of betraying the party’s mandate.

Ifoh condemned their actions, describing them as “unfortunate, irrational, and inconsistent with democratic principles.”

Referring to Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, Ifoh emphasized that lawmakers sponsored by a political party must vacate their seats upon defection unless the party is experiencing a crisis.

He outlined the party’s three-step response to the defections: condemning the act, petitioning the Speaker to declare the seats vacant, and pursuing legal action.

“We have asked the Speaker to declare their seats vacant, but given his open support for the defectors, we are not optimistic about his compliance. Consequently, we will escalate the matter to the courts. Our legal department has been instructed to proceed with filing the case,” Ifoh stated.

He also announced the establishment of a “Hall of Shame” register to document the identities of “defected public office holders, rebels and troublemakers” who, in his words, have disgraced the Labour Party. The register is set to be publicly unveiled on Monday (today).

“Let me tell you that significantly by tomorrow, Monday, we are going to publish the register of the hall of shame. We will make it available and publish it in the media generally.

“This will be done for people to know that it is wrong to take a party’s mandate to another party without doing what Section 68, Subsection 1(g) says concerning defection, especially when the party is not in crisis.

“But when leaving, you are supposed to drop the mandate. So, the register will be published tomorrow. On Monday, you will see it,” Ifoh affirmed.

The presidential candidate of the Labor Party (LP) in last year’s presidential election, Mr Peter Obi has condemned the sudden disappearance of the emeritus Archbishop of Niger Province, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala in Anambra State

According to the former governor of Anambra State, the revered cleric was on his way to a public function in Anambra State, alongside his driver when he disappeared.

Posting on his X handle, Obi also condemned the level of insecurity in the country saying people are living in fear and uncertainty.

“I have just read the ugly news of the sudden disappearance of the emeritus Archbishop of the Niger Province, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, yesterday.

“This deplorable level of insecurity in every part of the nation remains condemned. In almost every part of the nation, our people live in fear and uncertainty, not knowing when the terror will strike.

“It is even more worrisome how many of our people who are victims of insecurity go unreported. Every Nigerian citizen should be able to move freely for their productive endeavours in any part of the nation without fear of terror or harm.

“The government, at all levels, must ensure this by ensuring the protection of lives and property of the people.

“I remain in earnest prayers with the Okpala family and the entire Anglican Communion for the safe return of the Archbishop and that his driver while calling on the security agencies to take urgent actions to unravel the Archbishop’s disappearance and ensure their safe return.”