Nigeria: National Assembly Allocates N22.8 Billion to Ghost Agency in 2010 Budget


Adetutu Folasade-Koyi

24 May 2010

Abuja — It has just emerged that the National Assembly (NASS) allocated N22.8 billion in this year's budget to an agency that does not exist. Both NASS Chambers approved a harmonised version of the N4.6 trillion budget in April, which was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan the same month.

The N22.8 billion was allocated under the subhead 'Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS)' in the 2010 budget for the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Information gleaned from the budget shows that the agency is also called COMARASS Project.

Trouble broke out in the Senate last Wednesday during consideration of a Bill for the establishment of a Maritime Security Agency to promote maritime security and other related purposes.

Petroleum Resources (Upstream) Committee Chairman, Lee Maeba, drew attention to the fact that, "The law setting up this agency hasn't even been passed" and that money has already been allocated for an agency whose creation Bill "hasn't even undergone Second Reading."

In the financial estimates of the proposed agency, which emanated from the office of the NSA and was circulated to Senators before the debate on the Bill last Wednesday, the outlay had the headline 'Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS) with reference number PICOMSS/1225/Vol.1.'

The letter from the office of the NSA, with secretariat on the 9th Floor, Bukar Dipcharima House, Central Business District in Abuja tagged: Restricted was dated April 23, 2010.

It was addressed to the Senate.

The letter explained that only N5.8 billion is needed to set up the agency, which would be further broken into four security zones across the country.

It reads: "Further to the Maritime Security Agency, MASECA, (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2010, currently receiving consideration at the Senate, I wish to request the distinguished Senators to note that the structure of the agency is based on four Maritime Security Zones (MSZ) in Lagos (LMSZ), Delta (DMSZ), Rivers (RMSZ) and Calabar (CMSZ), an Air Wing in Benin and a National Coordinating Centre (NCC) in Abuja.

"These Maritime Security Zones are the four major zones where most maritime economic activities are conducted. The zones are also where most maritime crimes are committed, the consequences of which include the loss of revenue to government.

"If the spate of these crimes is curtailed, Nigeria stands to receive up to $25.9 billion in revenue annually.

"Distinguished Senators, may I respectfully invite you to note that the cost implication for the establishment of MASECA is N5.8 billion only.

"The summary is as follows:

"(a) NCC-N2,100,000,000.

"(b) LMSZ - N90, 000,000

"(c) DMSZ - N790,000,000

"(d) RMSZ - N790,000,000

"(e) CMSZ - N790,000,000

"(f) Benin Air wing - N540,000,000

"Total - N5,800,000,000."

The letter was signed by S.A. Atawodi, Air Vice Marshal (Rtd), Chairman.

Five days after, on April 28, Senate President David Mark signed and minuted to Senate Leader Teslim Folarin: "Please note and take necessary action."

During last Wednesday's debate, Maritime Transport Committee Vice Chairnan, Tafidan Argungu, said the agency does not exist, in response to its status from Mark.

This revelation led Mark to suspend debate on the Bill and called for more work to be done before it is re-introduced for consideration.

Copyright © 2010 Daily Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

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Will its establishment provide new jobs and how many? Pls can anybody ask them because that's wat matters 2 me.