Niger assembly constitutes c’ttee to investigate gov’s expenditure

Niger State House of Assembly has constituted a seven-man committee to investigate the state’s expenditure under the administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello in the past one year.

The findings of the committee are expected to include federal allocations accruing to the state and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state.

The decision came after a member representing Bosso constituency, Abdulmalik Madaki, raised a motion of urgent public importance during the house plenary on Thursday.

According to the lawmaker, the expenditure of the state government for the past one year had not been carried out in accordance with the appropriation law and that it was not transparent.

He maintained that yearly estimate and expenditure by law had to be laid before the House of Assembly in accordance with Section 121 sub-section 1 of 1999 Constitution as amended.

Madaki said that was never done and as elected officials that must be put to check for effective service delivery.

The state government in its reaction said the state Assembly has not done anything strange, rather performing its responsibility.

“Adding to that, the State Government under the able leadership of Dr Abubakar Sani Bello has remained steadfast and ensured prudent management of its lean resources,” the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Muhammad Sani Idris, said, adding that the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic that has almost grounded world economies has not in any way made the government lose focus.

He said the executive arm of government is always open to any engagement and cooperation with the state assembly to further promote good governance hinged on the tenets of prudence and accountability in expending government resources.