Ecological fund: Reps C'tte frowns against absentee MDAs, States

The House of Representatives Committee investigating the total consolidated accruals and utilisation of the Ecological Fund has frowned at government agencies and states that failed to appear before it to defend their spendings.

At the investigative hearing of the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka, the chairman of the committee, said he was disturbed by the absence of some of the government agencies and state officials.

"Anyone willing to test the capacity of the committee will not be disappointed."

"The committee has in the last few months worked diligently to ensure that states were self-sustaining for ecological exigencies. Half of the states affected are not here.

"We will make sure that such people appear through a bench warrant."

"The House of Representatives will ensure that laws are enacted so that those institutions that took ecological funds will be made to appear before the committee to defend the spendings," he said.

He further said the committee would give them a window to make their submissions or allow them to defend themselves at another government institution.

Also speaking, Rep. Taiwo Onuga (APC-Ogun), a member of the committee however moved a motion that those agencies that failed to appear before the committee without cogent reading should be made to appear on 9th Nov.

Speaking earlier, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the Ecological Fund of the Federation was established to provide resources for protecting our natural environment.

He said it was also meant for funding repairs and developments necessary to prevent harm, stressing that the dedicated pool of resources in the Ecological Fund is also intended for emergency response.

Gbajabiamila added that it helped in remediation during environmental and natural disasters, stressing that the hearing was convened at a time when millions of Nigerians were suffering the adverse effects of a devastating flood across the country.

Mr Ibrahim Umaru, Commisioner for Finance Jigawa and Secretary, Association of Finance Commissioners said most commissioners have not gotten clearance from their principals to appear before the committee, hence; the reason they did not show up

The Supreme reports that only nine out of the 36 states of the Federation invited for the investigative hearing were present, and these are Ondo, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Jigawa, Plateau, and Enugu.

Also, some of the agencies that failed to appear include the Ecological Project Office, the Federal Ministry of the Niger Delta, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.