Senate’ll probe N25bn TSA fraud –Saraki

 

Summons JAMB boss over admission policy

SENATE President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said no amount of intimidation or blackmail will stop the National Assembly from investigating an alleged N25 billion fraud in the management of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
Saraki said this in reaction to Senator Dino Melaye’s motion before the Senate yesterday over a newspaper article allegedly blackmailing the Senate for pointing out the alleged fraud.
The Senate president said: “No amount of either black- mail or intimidation will stop us from doing the work we have to do.We have a responsibility here to ensure that there are no leakages in government funds and if there are, we will call the attention of the public and do whatever it takes to salvage the situation; it is our responsibility.
“The facts about the TSA will come out and every- body will have the opportunity before the committee to state the facts, the facts will speak for themselves.” Sara- ki said he would expedite action on the inauguration of standing committees to enable them begin oversight duties fully.
Earlier, Melaye said his attention was drawn to the write-up accusing the Sen- ate of working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to implement TSA.
He expressed concern about some reports pit- ting the National Assembly against the Presidency.
In a related development, Senate, yesterday, summoned Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Professor (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, to appear before the Committee on Education to explain the rationale behind difficulties surrounding ad- missions into the nation’s higher institutions.
The Senate also mandated the committee to investigate circumstances surrounding a new JAMB policy, bordering on allegations of favouritism. T‎ he committee was also mandated to review the power of JAMB on issues revolving around admission issues.
The upper legislative chamber also directed JAMB to extend the validity of candidates’ admissions into tertiary institutions from 12 months to 36 months to ease pressure faced by parents who cannot easily raise funds to send their children to schools.