Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A coalition of civil society organisations has blamed the delay being experienced in implementing the switch over from analogue to digital broadcasting ‎on the ‎alleged diversion of N1.7billion given to the Integration Television Service Limited (ITS) that ended up in private pockets.
The CSOs noted that the said money was meant for the purchase of equipment for the smooth transition to the digital broadcasting, but lamented that only a paltry sum was committed to the purchase of very obsolete and substandard equipment.
The 11 CSOs that formed the coalition therefore gave the federal government a one-week ultimatum to address the problem or face a major protest.‎
They said the failure of the federal government to meet the switchover date was due to alleged misappropriation of funds and sharp practices within the industry.
The CSOs’ displeasure was contained in a communiqué signed by the National Coordinator, Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, Solomon Adodo; Yomi David for the Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative; Okpanachi Jacob for the Civil Society Advocacy Group for Accountability and Probity; Adebimpe Adeboye for the Royal Empowerment for Development Initiative; and Raymond Obuseh for the Integrity Leaders International Development Initiative among others.
It stated: “‎The Minister of Information should correct the anomaly or face a serious protest from the civil society.
‎“Evident records showed that Integrated Television Service Limited has been used as a conduit for diverting public funds at the detriment of the efficient implementation of the Digital Switch Over project.
“We found out to our dismay that a certain cartel is working at cross purposes with the digital switchover plan for self-serving pecuniary interests.â€
The group alleged that, “out of N1.7billion given to the ITS to purchase equipment for the smooth transition to the digital switchover, a greater chunk was diverted to private pockets, while only a paltry sum was committed to the purchase of very obsolete and substandard equipment.
“On the heels of these inescapable questions, we herein make our sole and singular prayer that the entire irregularities the process has been fraught with be addressed within seven days of this notice.
“This in itself poses a great threat to Nigeria’s DSO plan. It therefore behooves on us as ever vigilant civil society to expose the seething corruption, waste of public resources, inept services and compromise,†it stated.
