Fresh from the Sallah break, the House of Representatives, Tuesday, resolved to investigate the $1.6 million (N255 million) allegedly used by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase two BMW bullet proof cars for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.
The committee is to ascertain whether the purchase was made by the minister; whether it was authorised by any appropriation; whether NCAA has been complying with Financial Responsibility Act (FRA) on Internally Generated Revenue, and whether the minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria.
Relying on Section 88 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), a member of the House, Hon. Osagie, expressed concern that given the poverty and unemployment ravaging the nation, “it will be absurd, unthinkable and indeed unpatriotic for an agency of government to connive with its political head to incur such an expenditure simply for the comfort and safety of one public officer.”
He said the RMAFC has elaborate recommendations regarding the conduct of public officers including ministers and how they would be catered for in terms of salaries and emoluments, housing and motor vehicle. He said recommendations on these have been passed into law by the National Assembly.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Joseph Kigbu (CPC, Nasarawa) said there was no justification for any public official to spend money on frivolities, adding that the practice needs to be checked.
Others who supported the motion were Hon. Hassan Sale (APC, Benue), Emmanuel Jime (PDP, Benue), Matthew Omegara (APC, Imo) and Mohammed Wudil (PDP, Kano.
In a related development, the House is equally investigating the renovation contract on the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano as well as alleged barring of the Qatar airline to the airport by the Ministry of Aviation.
Upon a motion by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano), the House resolved to inaugurate an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations against the Ministry of Aviation for blocking Qatar Airlines from flying the Kano route. The committee is to also ascertain the quality of renovation work done on the airport.
While leading debate on the motion, Madaki said in June , there was a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Qatar officials in Doha where Qatar presented two options to be granted additional landing permits in Kano and Abuja.
According to him, one of the options was that Qatar be granted 21 weeks frequencies to Lagos and 14 weeks frequencies both to Kano and Abuja. He disclosed that the Nigerian delegation refused the 39 additional landing permits demanded by Qatar and instead directed the airline to use Enugu and Port Harcourt airport.
Both motions were unanimously adopted.
Source:The Will
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