Reps Joint Committees Interface With Government Agencies Over Budget Mismanagement

The House of Representatives Joint Committees on Finance and National Planning has interfaced with government agencies over the mismanagement of their budget.

This was during an interactive session in Abuja. The session scrutinized the 2023 budget utilization and transparency practices of various government agencies so as to ensure compliance with fiscal regulations.

The Chairman House Committee on Finance, Mr. James Faleke, underscored the importance of holding agencies accountable for their spending.

He said that the meetings were vital to evaluating their performance and ensuring funds were used prudently.

Mr. Faleke insisted that agencies funded by the government must remit 100% of their revenue to the treasury, describing CMD’s financial practices as unlawful.

 

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The Director-General of the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Mr. Bitrus Chinoko, presented his agency’s report, explaining that CMD is a fully funded government establishment mandated to conduct training for national development.

However, lawmakers criticized CMD for spending funds without proper appropriation.

The situation escalated when CMD’s Director of Finance and Accounts claimed the agency had permission to spend without appropriation.

The Committee demanded proof, asking for a letter of authorization.

The DG quickly apologized, attributing the statement to the director’s inexperience and later admitted that the agency had indeed been spending funds without due process.

Mr. Faleke warned the CMD’s management that such financial recklessness could result in their referral to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.

 

Budget dissatisfaction 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) also appeared before the lawmakers. The Director-General of the agency, Mathew Adegboye, briefed the Committee on the agency’s mandate of promoting research and development in Nigeria.

He clarified that the agency had not sold any significant assets during the review period, except for a few old vehicles.

The Committee was dissatisfied with the agency’s 2023 budget report.

The Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Mr. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, who presided over the session, expressed his disappointment and directed NASRDA to reappear next Wednesday with complete and properly documented submissions.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) was also scheduled to make a presentation, but it was rejected due to the absence of the Registrar-General.

The Commission was instead represented by its Director of Special Duties, Orji Uzona, who informed lawmakers that the Registrar-General was ill and had authorized him to appear.

However, the Committee demanded a formal letter of authorization, which Uzona could not provide.

Consequently, the Committee directed that the Registrar-General must appear in person next Wednesday.

Representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were also present during the session.

Isiaka used the opportunity to stress the importance of aligning the 2025 budget with Nigeria’s development priorities.

He assured that the committees would work closely with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming budget is realistic, achievable, and aligned with the nation’s strategic goals.

Agencies, including CMD, NASRDA, and CAC, were instructed to reappear next week with all required documents and explanations regarding their financial practices.

The lawmakers reiterated the need for fiscal discipline and accountability, vowing to clamp down on any form of financial irregularities.

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh