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…..Calls for Policy on Domestic Schooling for Officials’ Children The Civil Society Budget Implementation, Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent action over corruption allegations leveled against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed. In a press statement signed by its representative, Amb. Agbonkpolor Splendor on Monday, the group expressed deep concern over claims made by Africa’s foremost industrialist and founder of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleging that the NMDPRA boss spent about five million United States dollars on secondary school education for his four children in Switzerland over a six-year period. CBIAMEC said the allegation, which was reportedly made by Dangote during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos, raises serious ethical and integrity questions, particularly given Nigeria’s current economic challenges and widespread public distrust in governance. The group noted that such expenditure appears inconsistent with the known earnings of a public servant, especially one heading a key regulatory agency in the petroleum sector. According to CBIAMEC, regulatory institutions are expected to operate at the highest standards of transparency and accountability, warning that any perception of personal enrichment could undermine public confidence and the credibility of the NMDPRA. CBIAMEC also aligned with Dangote’s reference to his own children attending secondary schools in Nigeria, describing it as a moral example that highlights the possibility of quality education within the country when leaders are committed to strengthening local institutions. Beyond the specific allegations, the civil society group called for the introduction of a clear national policy requiring children of government officials and political appointees to attend primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, except in clearly justified and transparent circumstances. It argued that such a policy would strengthen confidence in the nation’s education system, reduce capital flight through foreign school fees, encourage investment in local institutions, and promote patriotism and shared national responsibility. On the allegations against the NMDPRA CEO, CBIAMEC urged President Tinubu to immediately relieve Mr. Ahmed of his position pending a full, independent, and transparent investigation. The group stressed that allowing officials facing serious allegations to remain in sensitive offices weakens Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts. According to the statement, decisive action by the President would reaffirm his administration’s commitment to accountability, restore public confidence, and send a strong signal that no public official is above scrutiny. CBIAMEC reaffirmed its commitment to civic engagement, budget transparency, and the protection of public interest, adding that it would continue to monitor developments and engage relevant authorities to ensure accountability and justice.

📌 …Accuses unions of prioritising dues over workers’ welfare📌 …Warns against sabotage of national energy security The Civil Society Budget Implementation Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC) has strongly criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), accusing them of hypocrisy and selfish motives in their confrontation with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Amb. Agbonkpolor Splendour, and released on October 1, 2025, CBIAMEC warned that the actions of the unions could undermine Nigeria’s energy security and economic future. 🔹 CBIAMEC noted that while it recognises the constitutional rights of workers to organise, the unions’ demands—particularly PENGASSAN’s insistence on immediate check-off dues—expose a focus on revenue collection rather than genuine concern for workers’ welfare. 🔹 The Committee condemned the unions’ silence during decades of corruption and wasted billions on turnaround maintenance of government-owned refineries that never worked, describing their current posture as “shameless weaponisation of union privileges for selfish financial gain.” 🔹 CBIAMEC further urged Nigerians to resist any attempt to sabotage the Dangote Refinery, describing it as Africa’s most significant private sector investment and a beacon of hope, jobs, and economic sovereignty for Nigeria’s 230 million citizens. 🔹 The Committee also challenged PENGASSAN and TUC to publish their audited financial statements for the past 10 years, stressing that transparency must start with the unions themselves. “Dialogue, transparency and constructive engagement, not sabotage disguised as activism, should guide union relations with the refinery,” CBIAMEC stated. 📢 CBIAMEC remains committed to promoting accountability, transparency, and sustainable economic development in Nigeria.