The Senate has commenced a probe of illegal transfer of about N14 billion from the 2017 appropriation budget of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Rose Oko (PDP Cross-River) revealed that the committee was aware of an existing legislative query of NEPZA over an alleged illegal transfer of funds from the 2017 appropriation budget of the agency.
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Oko said the query indicated that the fund, which was transferred to Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company, was in breach of the 2017 Appropriation Act. The committee seeks an explanation of how such funds got moved from government coffers to a private company without due process and without the provision of goods and services.
According to Oko, the ministry has a critical role to play in the development of the nation’s economy, noting that all agencies under the ministry must be up and doing.
