BUDGET: REPS TO
PROBE FINANCE
MINISTRY OVER
POOR FUNDS
RELEASE
Category: Lead stories Published on Friday,
04 October 2013 05:02 Written by Musa
Abdullahi Krishi & Ibrahim Kabiru Sule Hits:
5331
The
House
of
Representatives
committee
on
Information
and
Communications
Technology
has
said
that
it would investigate the Ministry of Finance
and the Budget Office over poor release of
funds to some Ministries, Departments and
Agencies (MDAs) for the implementation of
the 2013 budget.
Chairman of the committee, Rep Ibrahim
Shehu Gusau (APC, Zamfara) stated this
during his committee’s oversight to the
Federal Ministry of Communications
Technology yesterday. Gusau said the
committee was appalled that the ministry
whose approved budget for capital projects
for the 2013 fiscal year was over N2 billion
only received about N727 million with less
than three months for the year to run out.
“We’re not impressed at all. This is October
but only 28.05 percent of your approved
budget has been released. What happens
to the 72 percent now that it is less than
three months to December, and you must
refund unspent funds by December 31.
“We will get to the root of this matter by
investigating both the budget office and the
ministry of finance. We will invite those
responsible for this and ask them relevant
questions before getting back to the House.
We can’t afford to fold our hands and see
things happen this way since the budget
was passed and approved by the president,
which makes it to become law,” he said.
He added that if the government is not
ready to continue with the ministry, it
should be closed or merged with whatever
ministry or department they deem
necessary.
Other members of the committee also
raised concerns with the way the ministry’s
budget releases have been handled and
assured of their resolve “to get to the
bottom of the matter.”
Permanent Secretary in the ministry Dr
Henry Apkan informed members that the
ministry’s capital budget for 2013 was N3.7
billion out of which N1.14 billion was given
to the Nigeria Communications Satellite
(NIGCOMSAT).
He said the ministry has been able to
utilize the 28.05 percent of the capital
budget released to them so far by carrying
out some projects in Zamfara, Abuja,
Kaduna and other places.
The committee also promised to visit the
sites of the said projects to ascertain the
ministrys' claim.