Direct MDAs To Appear Before Us – House Committee Urges President Tinubu  

The house of Representatives committee on Finance, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to appear before it unfailingly for the ongoing Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sessions.

The Chairman of the committee Hon James Faleke, made the call while reacting to the failure of some MDAs to appear before the committee for the sessions at the National Assembly.

He stated that the committee had written letters to all the agencies to appear before it to defend their submissions in compliance with the laws.

Hon Faleke said the agencies are ignoring the invitations, despite the fact that the house must pass the MTEF before the President can lay the budget.

“We want to make it clear that any delay arising from the passage of the Budget is not the fault of the National Assembly. So, we want to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct all his ministers and agencies to appear before us to defend their budget,” Hon Faleke said.

The Chairman equally emphasised the importance of the Committee, maintaining that it would help in the interface with the agencies and stakeholders on government finances especially to ensure a realistic Medium-Term Expenditure Framework & Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) before the presentation of the 2024 annual budget.

“As the representatives of the Nigerian people, a position which we occupy in trust for them, we owe Nigerians the onerous responsibility of delivering the democratic dividends to the door steps of our constituents in line with our campaign promises,” he said.

Hon Faleke also warned against the tendency that might create room for leakages and shortfall with the aim of depriving the government and the country’s expected resources.

The Committee summoned the Director General, Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Afiz Oluwatoyin to appear before it unfailingly on Monday, 13 Nov 2023, after rejecting the Director Finance and  Account, Attah Sophia who appeared to represent the DG.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Federal Housing Authority FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, declared their capability to offer housing solutions to Nigerians, emphasising the crucial need for appropriate legislative backing.

He  However explained that, the FHA is currently operating under tight financial constraints, which may be limiting its ability to fulfill its housing objectives.

Lawmakers who spoke at the hearing condemned in strong terms, some  MDA’s attitude toward the parliament even as they threatened to invoke relevant sections of the law against agencies that continually treat them with levity.