Reps tie budget to core mandates of MDAs

By Lawrence Olaoye

The House of Representatives yesterday disclosed that funds would only be appropriated to government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) based on their actual performance in their core mandates.

Chairman, House of Representatives committee on science and technology, Rep Abiodun Akinlade, made this remarks while kick-starting the 2014 budget defence exercise for all agencies under the committee’s supervision.

Akinlade expressed worry that most of the agencies excel in recurrent expenditures only to perform dismally in capital projects which are supposed to benefit the people.

The committee chairman said “this committee would not entertain a situation where agencies would only be paying salaries without delivering on their core mandates. Any agency found not performing on its core mandates would have its resources reallocated for better performances.”

Committee members also raised issues on the low level of cooperation and collaboration among the numerous government agencies in the Science and Technology sector.

The committee particularly charged the management of the National Agency for Science Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to liaise with sister agencies for patronage of its Karshi Solar Project in the marketing of its solar panels.

The committee also queried the management of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) on the quality of solar lights provided as constituency projects for the members of the National Assembly.

Commenting on the dysfunctional solar powered street lights and boreholes constructed by the agency, Akinlade said “the complaints about low quality projects delivered by your agency are not particular to the members of the committee but has become a source of major concerns for all the members of the National Assembly. The projects, instead of adding to members’ political profile only end up diminishing them in their constituencies.”

He therefore urged the agency to devise means of inculcating a maintenance culture as well as put in place control measures to streamline the activities of its contractors who are fond of cutting corners.