By Emegwoako C. Paschal
The House Committee on Ecology has begun an investigation into states and agencies regarding money released to them through the Ecological Fund.
The committee is conducting the investigation after visiting flood-affected states.
On Monday, November 7th, the committee held its first investigative hearing in Abuja, questioning the National Agricultural Land Development Authority about the ecological funds it received and spent.
The NALDA’s Director-General, Paul Ikonne, had made a presentation to the committee, during which he detailed the funds received by the organization since 2022.
“We have already made submission as requested by your committee, Mr. Chairman,” Ikonne stated. NALDA has received a total of N9,642,557,654.91 from June 2020 until the date of requesting this submission, which is March 2022. NALDA has received a total of N12, 740,506,664 to date.”
The committee’s chairman, Ibrahim Isiaka, expressed displeasure with the presentation, saying, “NALDA, we have received your submission and having gone through it, the committee members have so many queries and questions.” We’ll put you on the spot after we go through the rest of the paperwork.”
Isiaka also expressed disappointment with the absence of several Federal Government ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as several state governments.
According to the lawmaker, only about ten states honored the invitation extended to the 36 states of the federation, including Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Kwara, Imo, Niger, Ondo, Borno, and Jigawa.
The committee also summoned the National Emergency Management Agency’s leadership and re-invited others.
“Those who refused to appear here or refuse to respond to our letters, anyone willing to test the capacity of this committee will not be disappointed,” Isiaka said in part. It is clear that people in this country are only paying lip service to the call for devolution of powers, such that states feel compelled to always go cap-in-hand to the center.”
