TheNewsGuru

Tag: House of Representatives Committee

  • Drama as Reps, Minister of Women Affairs clash over N20 million for sanitary pads, others

    Drama as Reps, Minister of Women Affairs clash over N20 million for sanitary pads, others

    A video showing the moment the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye and a House of Representatives committee engaged in a heated debate over an alleged corruption in her ministry have surfaced on social media.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, chaired by Kafilat Ogbara, is investigating the alleged diversion of N1.5 billion earmarked for the payment of contractors, including N45 million for a new year party, N20 million for sanitary pads, and N1.5 million for vehicle fuel.

    This comes after some displeased contractors petitioned the committee, alleging non-payment for contracts they had executed for the ministry, which led to the invitation of the minister of Women Affairs, Kennedy-Ohanenye.

    The hearing soon turned into choas, as committee members and the minister hurled accusations and counteraccusations.

    Ogbara asked, “What was budgeted for 2023 from the accountant-general’s office, was it released to the account of the ministry of women affairs. Yes or no?”

    Marie Ebikake, another member of the committee, accused the minister of sidelining staff of the ministry.

    Ebikake said before she was interrupted by the minister, “Fortunately, I attended the last meeting and one of the reasons why we took you on oath was to get the truth from you and today you have deviated.”

    Kennedy-Ohanenye said, “I take exception. I don’t like this allegation. I am no slave to anybody.

    “She should withdraw that statement she said about me. It is not fairness here. It is a trap but I am not going to jump into it. I fear nothing… nothing!!”

    Kennedy-Ohanenye was also interrupted by the committee chairperson, who cautioned her against jumping in while an “honourable member” was speaking.

    The back and forth continued for a while.

    The committee which also sought clarification on funds appropriated for the African First Lady’s mission and the whereabouts of the N1.5 billion meant for contractor payments said that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting the Minister and the officials of the ministry.

    The minister however denied the allegations of misappropriation, overspending, and non-payment to contractors.

    The procurement officer confirmed contractors’ claims, and the Director of Finance and Administration acknowledged only paying approved contracts.

    It would be recalled that the committee had at its last sitting summoned the minister to appear before it to explain the rationale behind the non-payment.

    The committee also ordered the stoppage of all 2024 contract processes by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs until the whereabouts of the money for the said contracts are determined

  • Reps turn down revenues by Govt Owned Enterprises insisting it’s under-declaration

    Reps turn down revenues by Govt Owned Enterprises insisting it’s under-declaration

    The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Abubakar Bichi on Monday resumed interactive session with GOE’s over the 2024 declaration of revenue target insisting projected revenues is not enough for the country .

    He attributed rising inflation to a major problem hence the need for GOE’s to appear before the committee for further interaction.

    Bichi noted that reducing the burden of Nigeria’s debt profile, sectoral budgetary allocations, and the dynamics of budget releases, economic diversification strategies, revenue generation forecasts is needed to facilitate the enactment of the bill and effective implementation of the Appropriations Act, 2024.

    To this end the Committee chairman summoned Government Owned enterprises to include the minister of Finance, FIRS, NUPRC, NCC, CG Customs, NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, Minister of State for Petroleum, the CBN Governor among others to appear in person on Monday 10am prompt

    The committee had turned back representatives of CBN, Customs, FIRS, and demanded their heads to appear.

    The interactive session was to discuss further areas where the country could find money to fund the 2024 budget.

    According to him, these revenue-generating agencies must come with money because, without money, there is no magic the president can perform to ensure the realization of the Renewed Hope Budget.

    He said President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 budget is fantastic, but money is needed to fund the budget.

    Bitchi said, “The objective of this engagement is, among others, to provide highlights on some key issues in relation to the preparation, enactment, and implementation of the 2024 budget.”

    He said there were concerns about addressing the infrastructural gap in the country, eliminating poverty, and generally achieving the 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He added that there was a need to ensure that all loose ends to revenue were tied, adding that this could have a gross impact on the government’s ability to implement the 2024 Appropriation Bill when passed.

    “While the revised MTEF and FSP showed that revenue-generating efforts by the present administration are already yielding fruit, more needs to be done to ensure that government-owned enterprises optimize their revenue-generating potential.”

    Speaking, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, said the interactive session represented a beckon of light.

    He said, “Mr. President is ambitious, and he is very clear that Nigeria is not where it is; the revenue we collect is about 10 percent, and the president has directed that we raise it to 18 percent.”

    “We understand that the lawmakers are interested in how money is spent. You are also interested in how you can cooperate with the executive to ensure we take Nigeria to a greater height..

    He said the 2024 proposal had increased spending, which included infrastructure and education, among others. He added that the budget appropriation had a proposal for $100 billion for the Sustainable Agriculture Fund.

    According to him, we also want to ensure that our manufacturing sector will worry less about demand than production. We have provided a total of N50 billion in student loans.

    He said these were game-changing moves, which are a product of legislation, adding that “all of us must work together to ensure we interrogate the revenue-generating agencies.

    “We need a budget that can be trusted. We don’t have money; we are looking for money, so that is why we need to interrogate the revenue-generating agencies.