The House of Representatives Committee on Ecology has vowed to recover all ecological funds not utilised, and held by federal government ministries, departments and agencies, (MDAs).
The committee specifically said that the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has queries to answer with regards to the ecological fund received and so far expended.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, gave the verdict at the investigative hearing on the “Need to Investigate the Total Consolidated Accruals and Utilization of Ecological Fund”.
The remarks came after Director General of the Authority, Prince Paul Ikonne, made a presentation on the details of funds received since 2022.
“We made submission already as requested by your committee, Mr. Chairman. From June, 2020 till the day of requesting for this submission to be made which is from March 2022,” he said.
Reacting, Isiaka said, “NALDA, we have received your submission and having gone through it, the committee members have so many queries and questions. Before we put on the spot you still want a bit so that we go through the rest.”
The chairman also expressed displeasure over the non appearance of some agencies of federal government as well as several state governments.
According to him, about 10 states which included Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Kwara, Imo, Niger, Ondo, Borno, Jigawa honoured the invitation out of the 36 States invited.
“Those that refused to cause appearance here, or refused to respond to our letters. That anyone willing to test the capacity of this committee will not be disappointed.
“It is very obvious that people are even just paying lip service in his country and being frivolous about the clamour for devolution of powers, such that the urge to always go cap in and to the central by states this committee and House of Representatives has in the past few months have worked assiduously to make sure that the 774 local governments off this country and the 36 state including the FCT, their self sustenance in terms of funds and allocation to them for ecological challenges and now, out of 36 states of the federation, we do not even have half of the representatives here with us. I don’t know where we are going to,” he said.
