Reps Give Diezani, Others One Week To Reply Query

The minister of Petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke  and the GMD of NNPC (Mr. Andrew Yakubu, have been queried in a letter dated 26^th March and signed by the Chairman of the committee, Samuel Adeola, signifies the heightened preparation for the probe of the chartered private Jet which is said to be costing the country billions of Naira.

the Minister was expected to tender a written  submission within one week of all she knows about the transaction and if as a Minister she is entitle to such chartered private jets for private use. Weather or not she has not breached public service rules as well as who is responsible for the bills.

Other significant information that would help the committee in the investigation is also to be forwarded by Minister.

The GMD NNPC is to provide in written form to the lawmakers all information relating to the deal from 2011 till date, the level of involvement of the Corporation, the contractual agreement between the Corporation and the operators of the private jets and its financial commitment to it since 2011 till date among others.

The Committee is requesting from the private jets operators “the contract agreements between them and the NNPC from 2011 till date, all the flight schedules, the passengers’ manifests from 2011 till date and the amount of money paid to them during the period under review,” the source added.

The probe into the controversial operation of chartered private jets for private use for local and foreign trips by Mrs Diezeani Alison-Madueke was sequel to a motion brought before the House on the matter by a member, Samuel Adejare (APC, Lagos).

One of the aspects that the Reps Committee is interested in getting answers to is why there was no valid contract agreement between the NNPC/Petroleum Resources Ministry and the Private Jets operators for the lease of the 850 challenger Aircraft which was allegedly extensively used by the Minister.

The tendering of memoranda by stakeholders would be followed by the adoption of a date for the public hearing on the matter, in line with the resolution of the House, it was learnt on Wednesday.

Several new flight schedules operated on foreign trips by the Minister between 2012 and 2013 has also been uncovered by the Public Accounts committee.

The new discovery, involving Global Express XRS with tail number S5-GMG and tail number OE-LGX,OE-LSS and OE-INA allegedly cost $300,000 (about N50m) per trip, way above an estimated cost of N7.5million for the same trip.

A December 21, 2012 trip from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to the United Kingdom with the Global Express XRS with the tail number: OE-LGX gulped N57.5million as against an estimated N6million, it was also alleged.

Stellar Oduh was questioned on her role in the purchase of two bullet-proof cars.

 Yesterday, the Former Aviation Minister  Stellar Oduah  was interrogated by EFCC over her role in the purchase of two armoured BMW cars.

She was touted as one of the closest to the President, looked forlorn as she turned in herself to EFCC operatives for questioning in relation to the controversial bullet-proof cars.

Stellar Oduah at the EFCC office in Wuse2 Abuja around 10.30am and was not allowed to go until 3pm.

It was gathered that the former minister was questioned extensively on what she knew about the acquisition of the cars which generated a lot of adverse publicity for the beleaguered industry and the nation until she was dropped last February.

A competent source in the commission confirmed to vanguard that Oduah cooperated with the team that questioned her and made useful statement that might help in prosecuting her.

Students Seek End To Certificate Dichotomy

For many years, there has been a debate over the disparity between HND certificates from the Polytechnics and BSc and other university degrees.

Why polytechnic graduates and staff claim the certificates are one and same, the other part of the divide argue that the university system is superior.

Recently, students of the polytechnics students protesting in Lagos, carried placards with the inscription "HND' Equals Or Greater Than BSc."

Also, Comrade Salahudeen Lukman, Senate President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) recently demanded a "review of all discriminatory policies of the federal government and its agencies" against polytechnics, while demanding an end to te prolonged Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike.

Rector of Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic Kazaure, Dr. Kabiru Matazu, lent a voice to the call for a removal of the HND/BSc dichotomy in an interview with Abuja based newspaper Daily Trust.

"I think that dichotomy between polytechnic and university graduates should be removed. It should be removed or else you are saying that everybody must go to university and acquire a degree.  We are neglecting technical and vocational education," Matazu said.

On popular Nigerian networking site, a debate has been raging for 3 years now and comments there show that polytechnic students are desperate for a parity in certificates.

"Things are done haphazardly here in Nigeria, and that's the reason for the discrimination against technologists. If things were working or done rightly in Nigeria nobody will have a reason to discriminate against anyone, because he/she would know already the different function of each," Tosnat posted.