Reps summon 9 MDAs over budgetary spending

[MrVan]

BY Okey Ndiribe & Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA—House of  Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, yesterday, summoned nine ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, over their non-appearance to defend their extra-budgetary expenditure.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Adeola Olamilekan, said the nine MDAs had been invited thrice to appear before the committee and defend their extra-budgetary spending but that they failed to show up, adding that from all indications, the committee may not have a choice than to get their chief executives arrested.

He said: "If they fail to appear after this last summon, we may have to rely on the Auditor-General's audit report, which could be used to prosecute them immediately."

The MDAs are Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Industry and Federal Ministry of Communications.

Others are Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Nigeria Agricultural and Cooperative Bank, Ministry of Police Affairs and Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and Federal Character Commission.

The committee also examined queries on excess capital expenditure involving 22 MDAs and established sub-committees to further probe them.

Meanwhile, Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, has been invited to present additional copies of his submissions to the committee.

The committee had observed the non-appearance of the nine MDAs to defend their extra-budgetary expenditure and resolved that the Accountant-General should ensure the appearance of the affected MDAs before the lower house.

The affected MDAs are to be further probed for extra-budgetary expenditure despite appearing before the committee.

Vanguard Nigeria