The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: George Akume

  • FG Threatens Sanctions Over Inflated Contracts, Procurement Violations

    FG Threatens Sanctions Over Inflated Contracts, Procurement Violations

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Federal Government has warned heads of government-owned agencies and other public institutions against inflating contract costs or violating procurement regulations, threatening sanctions for officials who fail to comply with the law.

    The warning was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of agencies and other senior government officials.

    Akume expressed concern that several federal government-owned enterprises and corporations continued to award contracts without complying with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, despite its amendment through the Finance Act, 2020.

    He said the violations had contributed to inflated contract prices, restricted competition, exclusive arrangements for selected contractors and inadequate regulatory supervision.

    The SGF declared that the government would no longer tolerate such practices, directing all government-owned enterprises, corporations, councils, authorities and commissions that utilise public funds to conduct their procurement activities in line with the law.

    He also instructed the heads of the affected institutions, who serve as accounting officers, to consult the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for guidance on compliance.

    Akume warned that accounting officers who continued to award contracts outside the provisions of the Act would face appropriate sanctions.

    The circular further directed that its contents be communicated to all accounting officers for immediate implementation.

    The Public Procurement Act established the BPP as the regulatory body responsible for overseeing public procurement, promoting transparency and ensuring competition and value for money in government spending.

    Section 15, as amended by the Finance Act 2020, extends the law’s application to federal government-owned enterprises, corporations, councils, authorities and commissions that utilise public funds.

    The latest directive comes amid ongoing government efforts to tighten procurement controls and prevent the manipulation of contract costs.

    In May 2026, the BPP introduced stricter rules requiring Ministries, Departments and Agencies to obtain its certification before processing contract variations, changes in project scope and additional cost claims.

    Under the revised guidelines, all requests for contract variations and modifications must undergo BPP review, regardless of their financial value. The bureau warned that violations could attract sanctions, including the suspension of responsible officers and the possible debarment of contractors.

    BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, had said the reforms were intended to prevent contract variations from becoming a means of increasing project costs beyond approved amounts.

    In August 2026, Adedokun also disclosed that the Federal Government had saved about N1.4tn in 18 months through the bureau’s price intelligence and benchmarking initiatives.

    He explained that the system enabled the bureau to assess proposed project costs against established pricing standards before approving procurement requests.

    The bureau had separately reported savings exceeding N303bn, $304.9m and €1.74m from procurement reviews between January and September 2025.

    The latest warning reinforces the government’s position that officials responsible for public procurement must ensure that contracts are awarded transparently, competitively and in accordance with established regulations.

  • Atiku Backs Higher Minimum Wage, Blames Tinubu Policies For Rising Cost Of Living

    Atiku Backs Higher Minimum Wage, Blames Tinubu Policies For Rising Cost Of Living

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has backed organised labour’s demand for a substantial increase in the national minimum wage, arguing that rising costs have eroded the purchasing power of Nigerian workers.

    Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of imposing what he described as a severe economic squeeze on workers.

    He argued that the increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 had not translated into improved living conditions because of rising prices of petrol, food, transportation and housing.

    Atiku particularly criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying the policy pushed up living costs without adequate measures to protect working families.

    He said the current N70,000 minimum wage could buy only about 50 litres of petrol at N1,400 per litre, compared with about 118 litres that the previous N30,000 wage could purchase when petrol sold at the April 2023 national average of N254.06 per litre.

    According to him, the comparison showed that the increase in workers’ pay had not kept pace with the rise in living costs.

    “The payslip has grown, but the fuel it can buy has more than halved. Tinubu has given workers a larger number and left them with a smaller life. That is hardship dressed up as a wage increase,” Atiku said.

    He called on the Federal Government to agree to a substantial increase in the minimum wage that reflects the current cost of food, transportation, rent and other essential needs.

    Atiku also promised that, if elected in 2027, his administration would begin work on raising the wage floor from its first day in office and introduce measures aimed at reducing the cost of living.

    He proposed support for domestic production, targeted assistance for vulnerable Nigerians and a production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians.

    His comments came amid renewed calls from organised labour for a review of the N70,000 minimum wage, which labour leaders have argued no longer adequately reflects prevailing economic conditions.

    ### Akume Calls For Peace Ahead Of 2027 Elections

    Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has urged Nigerians to maintain peace and unity as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

    Akume made the call on Sunday during a national church service held at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

    In his vote of thanks, the SGF said Nigeria’s democratic development depended on citizens maintaining peace and unity, urging voters to approach the 2027 elections with hope rather than division.

    “As we look toward the 2027 elections ahead, let us remember that democracy is sustained by peace and unity. Our votes must be cast not in division, but in hope,” Akume said.

    He urged Nigerians to embrace dialogue and reject actions that could deepen divisions, saying the electoral process should reflect the aspirations of a united population.

    Akume also reflected on Nigeria’s 66 years as an independent nation, noting that the country had experienced sacrifices, challenges and achievements over the decades.

    He further highlighted the country’s uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999 as one of the milestones recorded in Nigeria’s post-independence history.