Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s ministers and aides who are yet to return government assets in their possession will soon be forced to do so, TheCable has been informed.
Presidential sources said three months after the end of the last administration, most of the officials are yet to return vehicles, generating sets and other entitlements that came with their previous positions.
President Muhammadu Buhari has decided to set up a committee to recover the assets from the former political appointees.
Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman, confirmed the development.
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“That is precisely the case. Even here at the presidential villa, there are cars and other property belonging to the government which are yet to be returned,” he said.
He said the decision was not intended to embarrass anyone.
“The property belongs to the Nigerian people. We are not trying to humiliate anyone by asking them to return their cars or houses,” he added.
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“Imagine how much Nigeria will save by retrieving and re-using these government properties instead of purchasing new ones for new government officials,” Shehu said.
TheCable could not confirm the identities of members of the committee, but learnt that they are civil servants and security agents.
It was customary for officials to make away with government property in their possession which they consider to be part of severance benefits, even without official approval.
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