On Thursday, important government agencies were called before the House of Representatives Special Committee, which is entrusted with looking into how take-off grants, bailout monies, and intervention allocations are used by government institutions, to respond to inquiries regarding their fund use procedures.
The meeting, held at the National Assembly in Abuja, is a component of a broader inquiry that was started when the House passed a resolution on March 6, 2025.
According to Naija News, House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda’s motion brought attention to the purported misappropriation and mishandling of government assistance monies.
“The House is worried that persistent allegations of diversion and mismanagement of these funds, as well as the potential failure to use them for their intended purposes, undermine the effectiveness of vital public services and projects,” Chinda said, highlighting the significance of openness.
A Special Committee headed by Emeka Chinedu (PDP, Imo) was formed by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas in response to these worries in order to investigate the use of monies by Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Government-Owned Enterprises between 2015 and the present.
On behalf of CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, John Hammah, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Acting Director of Development Finance, attended the hearing.
Hammah pledged the bank’s cooperation but requested additional time to compile accurate data spanning the period under review.
“Mr. Chairman and honourable members, we only received your invitation yesterday. We have quickly put this report together but now realise the broader scope of your investigation. We respectfully request additional time to provide comprehensive data,” Hammah stated.
Following deliberations, Committee Chairman Emeka Chinedu granted the CBN a two-week extension, with a requirement for CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso to appear in person on May 2, 2025.
Accountant General’s Office And Ministry Of Health Given Extra Time
Similarly, James Abalaka, representing the Office of the Accountant General, was granted the same two-week extension to submit detailed records of disbursements made to various agencies.
The hearing also saw officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in attendance. The commission’s secretary, Muhammad Hammajoda, urged the Accountant General’s office to provide a formal, structured report detailing the amounts disbursed and their intended purposes.
“We want a formal report detailing the amounts and purpose of disbursement. Once received, we will analyse the documents thoroughly,” Hammajoda remarked.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was represented by the Deputy Director of Accounts, Olatunde Makinde, who requested additional time, citing the need to gather accurate data from institutions under the ministry’s oversight across the country.
“We don’t want to submit inaccurate information. Please allow us more time to collect relevant documents from the institutions under us,” Makinde appealed.
Representing Speaker Abbas at the hearing, House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere reiterated the House’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The House has implicit confidence in this committee to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. Our goal is to promote good governance and optimise the use of public resources,” Ihonvbere said.
Chairman of the Special Committee, Emeka Chinedu Martins, emphasised the importance of the investigation and called for full cooperation from all government representatives.
“This is not a witch-hunt. We are here to ensure that every naira spent serves the interest of Nigerians. We urge full cooperation to help us deliver on this mandate,” Martins concluded.
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