News Post

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has been mandated to conduct a wide-ranging probe on recovered public funds and assets from 1999 till date. The investigation is to focus on the use to which such funds have been put and whether crimes may have been committed in the course of the management and disbursement of the recovered funds in the last 12 years. The directive came via a resolution that was passed on a motion seeking to ascertain the status of recovered public funds moved by Hon. Segun Adekola during plenary session on Thursday, April 28, 2016.

Hon. Adekola relied on the recent statement of the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation “that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has so far recovered more than $2trillion (over N400 trillion at current rate) looted from the national treasury in its 12 years of existence”. He exposed that further recoveries have been made by other institutions of Government such the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) in addition to the large sum of money returned by those looters who at various times entered into plea-bargain with the EFCC. 

He alluded to the fact that for many years now, successive governments have failed to be transparent regarding recovered funds; adding that the citizenry do not even know the exact amount of looted funds that have been recovered. The Lawmaker wondered why the nation have to solicit foreign loan when such huge sum has been recovered. He therefore thinks it would be expedient to inquire from the government how recovered funds have been utilized and to ensure strict accountability in the disbursement of the funds in line with existing laws of the land.

In another development, the Chamber debated and read for the second time, a Bill that seeks to empower the National Universities Commission to set out code of conduct for assessment of universities’ students’ character alongside academic performance as conditions precedent to award of Degrees to deserving students. The lead Sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar stated that an aspect of the Bill include to make it mandatory for immediate issuance and release of certificates to graduating students in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the House has debunked public speculations that all members of the 8th National Assembly has been given the sum of N100 Million for Constituency projects. Hon. Faruk Muhammadu from Niger State who granted interview to BBC Hausa apologized to the House for a statement he made in error during the interview, said he was misinterpreted and misrepresented by the media. Members hinted on the need for Nigerians to be educated on what zonal projects connotes and how such projects are distributed to various MDAs for execution, and not legislators.