Reps threaten zero allocation for NEMA

AHouse of Representatives panel has threatened to recommend zero allocation to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) over extrabudgetary spending.

Members of the committee on emergency and disaster preparedness said in Abuja yesterday that the management of NEMA led by its Director General, Mustapha Maihaja, spent N11 billion without approval in 2017.

The committee, headed by the deputy chairman, Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe) had on Tuesday queried Maihaja over the sum of N8bn spent from the Ecological Funds and N1.6bn on Libya returnees without any appropriation.

At the resumption of the budget session yesterday, the lawmakers accused Maihaja of awarding contracts for supply of some relief materials for victims without following due process.

A member of the panel, Adedoyin Olufunke (APC, Kwara) said: “What you spent is at variance with what we appropriated. You brought your budget which we approved and when ecological funds came, you spent it on local trainings and travels and all that.

“This isn’t acceptable and we won’t allow ourselves to be used as rubber stamp by any agency. I don’t think we should continue to allocate funds to such an agency,” she said, while other members of the panel chorused in agreement.

Maihaja said all the transactions done followed due process and that the money from Ecological Funds was approved by the President as part of intervention for emergency situations, the release of which was determined by disasters.

The panel demanded the DG to present the list of items purchased and the quantity delivered to each state; all documentary approvals from the President; copies of award letters given to contractors, among others.