•vow to recover funds •we don’t control ecological funds-EPO
By Christiana Ekpa
House of Representatives Committee on Ecology, Monday, said that the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has queries to answer with regards to the ecological fund received and expended.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka gave the ruling at the investigative hearing on the “Need to Investigate the Total Consolidated Accruals and Utilization of Ecological Fund”.
The remarks however came after the Director General of the Authority, Prince Paul Ikonne had made a presentation on the details of funds received since 2022.
“We made submission already as requested by your committee, Mr. Chairman. From June, 2020 till the day of requesting for this submission to be made which from March 2022, NALDA has received a total N9,642,557,654.91. Up till date, NALDA has received a total of N12, 740,506,664”, he had said.
Reacting, Isiaka said “NALDA, we have received your submission and having gone through it, the committee members have so many queries and questions. Before we put on the spot you still want a bit so that we go through the rest.”
The chairman also expressed displeasure over the non appearance of some agencies of federal government as well as several State governments.
According to him, about 10 States which included Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Kwara, Imo, Niger, Ondo, Borno, Jigawa honoured the invitation out of the 36 States invited.
Relying on a motion by the committee, Isiaka summoned the head of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA while re-inviting others.
“By new legislation that maybe coming we are saying enough is enough. We do not want anyone to be referring to it and say it should be their funding. They should look for their source of fund elsewhere.
“NEMA did not reply. We have written two three times, no information no response. The MD of NEMA having failed to respond to the three letters written to him to respond to monies allotted to NEMA is hereby summoned to appear before this committee on Wednesday 9th November by 10am.
“HYPPADEC having failed to appear before this committee after three letters written must cause appearance. The MD is hereby summoned to appear before this committee on November 9, by 10am.
“Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, we have it on record how much they have drawn from ecological funds and we have written two letters for them to appear before this committee. No representation and no reason for failure to show up. We are writing the third letter which must be responded to on or before November 9, 2022. This is directed at the Minister. He must reply to our letter on or before Wednesday, November 9.
Earlier in his submission, the Accountant -General, Plateau State, Dr. Cyril Tsenyil told the committee that between 2021 and October 2022, the state received N1,328,521, 802.48.
“We were able to come with our inflows from March 2021 to October 2022 and the total inflows in Plateau State is N1,328,521, 802.48. Out of this amount, the local government portion is N425, 103,27.79. The disbursement report to local government is attached. Like it’s been said, from 2014, Mr. Chairman, we have not able to lay our hands on the inflows because what we have seeing from FAAC now is what came from 2021 to date”, he said.
The Commissioner for Finance, Jigawa State and Secretary of Forum of Commissioners of Finance of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida Umar also gave details of their receipt and expenditure.
