The Kogi State Government has issued a query to the permanent secretary in the ministry of commerce Usman Ibrahim for his alleged role in the bread levy saga in the state.
The ministry had on November 9 wrote to the chairman of the state’s branch of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) introducing a company to collect a so-called bread levy from members of the association.
The development sparked outrage nationwide, prompting the state government to deny the introduction of the levy.
The state’s head of service Deborah Ogunmola issued the query letter to Mr Ibrahim in Lokoja on Tuesday.
Mrs Ogunmola in the letter, dated November 17, said that Ibrahim had on November 9 signed and addressed a letter to the state’s branch chairman of AMBCN on the subject of introducing an identified consulting company.
According to her, the letter also touches on payment of levies on bread by all bakers and caterers doing business in and across the state.
Ogunmola accused the permanent secretary of acting without due approval of the state’s commissioner of commerce and industry.
She said that the permanent secretary had also failed to provide a file documenting the approval for the dissemination of such information.
The head of service directed the permanent secretary to answer the query within 24 hours and explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
