The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to review the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, to conform to its mandates.
The House also directed the committee to evaluate NEMA’s disaster response capabilities in terms of personnel competencies and response management infrastructures.
This was a sequel to a motion by a member from Benue State Hon Phillips Agbese, at plenary.
The Lawmaker stated that besides the other sources of funds accruing to the agency, NEMA receives 20% of funds for Ecological Funds Accounts, amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira from its inception to date.
He said there are various complaints against NEMA by victims of disasters and stakeholders for its delayed and ineffective interventions, causing concern among stakeholders and victims of disasters.
Agbese expressed concern that NEMA has consigned its function mainly to providing relief materials and does not respond promptly to distress and disaster emergencies.
According to him, if the agency’s current conduct is left unchecked, Nigerians will lose confidence which would lead to its eventual transformation into a bureaucratic institution and a cash cow for unscrupulous individuals.
Adopting the motion, the house also mandated the committee to determine if funds disbursed to NEMA are utilised in conformity with extant financial
regulations and tandem with the agency’s mandates and proffer recommendations on how to improve the Agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Dominica Nwabufo
