Misappropriation: Reps ask FG to withhold ecological funds allocation to NEMA, NEDC, others

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, urged the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Accountant General of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to withhold further allocation of funds from the Ecological Funds to some agencies, pending the outcome of its investigation into the alleged misapplication of such funds.

The Agencies are: National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority.

READ ALSO:  COVID-19: Buhari govt lifts midnight curfew, ban on large gatherings

The House mandated the Committee on Ecological Funds to investigate the releases from Ecological Funds to these agencies in the last three years and examine the utilization of the funds allocated to them within the period.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun) during plenary.

Moving the motion, Isiaka noted that the Ecological Funds exists as an intervention fund set up by the Federal Government to address the

multifarious ecological challenges across the country.

He also noted that: “Apart from the yearly statutory Appropriations issued to the National Emergency Management Agency, National Agency for the Great Green Wall, the North-East Development Commission and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, additional Funds from the 1% Share of the Federal Government are

also allocated to Ecology and Derivation Funds

“While the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) draws 20%, by virtue of Section 13(2) (b) of its Act, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) draws 15%, by virtue of Section 12 (2) (b) of its Act, the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) draws 18%, by virtue of Section 14(12) (b) of its Act and National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) draws 18% by virtue of Section 16 (2) (a) of its Act.

The lawmaker said the House is: “Aware that the four Agencies have deviated from the regulation guiding the application of their respective shares of the ecological funds.

“Worried that efforts aimed at making the Agencies accountable for their shared funds in the last few years, have not yielded any positive result.

“Cognizance of Sections 88 and 89 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which

empowers the National Assembly to conduct an investigation, and power as to matters of evidence.”