By Musa Baba Adamu
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has expressed worried over unspent N4.5 billion loan meant for women empowerment in the State under World Bank Project “Nigeria For Women Program Scale-Up”
This, the House expressed shock as it discovered that the loan was being serviced by the State Government even when it was not disbursed to the women in the State who are supposed to be beneficiaries.
Hon. Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts disclosed this when the State Debt Management Office appeared before the committee on its 2025 budget assignment in Lafia, yesterday.
Peoples Daily reports that the Nigeria For Women Program Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) is a World Bank-supported initiative to expand women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria by building Women’s Affinity Groups, enhancing access to financial and livelihood support and promoting collective bargaining for women across selected States.
Hon. Akwashiki questioned why World Bank through Federal Government released N4.5billion loan for women in the State and the money was not distributed and now domiciled in the State Ministry of Women Affairs but the State Government has started servicing the loan.
He said: “We are sad and not happy with your explanation that the World Bank through the Federal Government has released loan amounting to N4.5 billion to be distributed to women in the State by clusters as empowerment and the money is still domiciled at the State Ministry of Women Affairs while the State Government is already servicing the loan, a loan that was not utilized, why?”
He directed the Commissioner, State Ministry of Women Affairs to explain in writing to the Committee on the said loan.
Hon. Akwashiki however, appreciated the developmental strides of Gov. Abdullahi Sule in the areas of road, water among other infrastructure.
“Nasarawa State Government is doing well in road, water among other infrastructure but there must be transparency in all MDAs activities.”
The Chairman assured that the Committee would ensure transparency and accountability in activities of MDAs in the State.
He directed the management of all MDAs, who are yet to avail the Debt Management Office with loan and debt records to do so within two weeks for transparency and accountability.
This he said was necessary because the Committee gathered that the State Government has acquired an external loan amounting to the tune of N81 billion where N555 million is being deducted monthly from the Federation Account as interest rate but ministries are frustrating efforts to know about its utilization.
Earlier, Mr Festus Lolo Umbugala, Executive Director, Debt Management Office, Lafia, Nasarawa State appreciated the Committee for ensuring transparency and accountability in governance of the State.
“N4.5billion was released last year by the Federal Government under” Nigeria For Women Program Scale-Up” to the State Ministry of Women Affairs.
“This is a loan that supposed to be given to women as empowerment but it was not done and the State Government has started servicing the loan” he said.
He said that the Nigeria for women Program Scale-Up was aimed to improve women’s economic opportunities, boost their resilience to climate change and foster greater financial inclusion for unbanked women by leveraging tested approaches.
