Reps query NIPSS for spending N212m IGR

AHouse of Representatives panel yesterday queried the management of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for spending N212 million out of the N219 million it generated as internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2017.

The Committee on Governmental Affairs chaired by Rep Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa (APC, Kebbi) demanded to know the authority that gave the institute the approval to utilize the IGR when an allocation was made for the institute in the national budget.

NIPSS 2017 budget was N2.2 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures, yet it went ahead to spend N212m apart from the appropriated sum, the panel said.

The panel said it was evident that the institute did not remit anything to government coffers out of the amount, with a balance of N7m still in NIPSS account.

Grilling the acting Director General of the institute, Jonathan Jumai, during a budget defence in Abuja, the panel gave the DG 24 hours to produce evidence of approval from any authority and the details of how the money was spent.

The committee chairman, who made the observation, said: “how did you spend the IGR? Did you get any approval to spend it?” Other members of the panel concurred, saying the acting DG must provide a detailed explanation on the matter.

In his response, the acting DG said NIPSS is not a revenuegenerating agency and that the approval was obtained through the submission made to the National Assembly last year.

Not satisfied with the response, the panel demanded Jumai to cite the provision of NIPSS act that empowers the institute to utilize its IGR. He was given up to today to do that.

Meanwhile, the panel stepped down the budget defence of the institute and asked it to provide details of how it expended the 2017 budget including the list and details of all projects executed.