House of Representatives on Thursday unveiled plans to probe total sum of N17 billion intervention fund approved for Nigeria’s relief agency, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) over the past one year.
Breakdown of the allocation showed that, the sums of N10 billion was released from ‘Ecological Fund’ in 2017; N5 billion was also released as ‘hunger intervention fund in the North East region’ while additional sum of N2 billion was released for ‘flood intervention fund’ across the country, within the period under review.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Benjamin Wayo (APC-Benue) over the alleged “violation of public trust” by NEMA Director General.
In his lead debate Wayo alleged that management of NEMA has failed to account for over N17 billion it has received so far.
According to him, the core mandate of NEMA was to coordinate the management of disaster across the country and to assist victims of such disasters.
“In spite of this core mandate, several cases of disasters across the country have been given necessary attention, that is the hunger issue in IDP camps in the Northeast, the farmers and herdsmen conflicts, fire disaster victims and many other such cases that have been neglected.
“The House is concerned that the agency has received more than N10 billion from 20 per cent National Ecological Fund in the last one year, N5 billion for hunger intervention n the North East, about N2 billion for flood intervention across the country.”
According to him, the Director General of the agency also awards contracts to companies he has personal interest in and has violated his approval limits by awarding contracts to single firm without due process.
“The House is worried that the agency is the only federal agency that has an Air Ambulance but has turned it into financial one without remitting the financial proceeds to government coffers and the agency could not account for their assets,” the Benue lawmaker alleged.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke in favour of the motion including Obinna Chidoka (PDP-Anambra) and Sunday Adepoju (APC-Oyo) accused NEMA helmsman and some officials of awarding dubious contracts without delivering relief materials to victims.
In his remarks, Chidoka who doubles as chairman, House Committee on Environment, stressed the need for the House to investigate the agency’s activities thoroughly with the view to ascertain the actual amount appropriated and spent so far.
On his part, Sunday Adepoju who applauded the sponsor of the motion, called for accountability in the utilisation of tax payers money.
To this end, the House mandated the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to investigate the allegations and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
