The House of Representatives Special Committee, tasked with investigating the use of take-off grants, bailout funds, and intervention allocations to government institutions, on Thursday summoned key government bodies to answer questions about their fund utilisation practices.
The session, which took place at the National Assembly in Abuja, is part of a wider investigation initiated following a resolution passed by the House on March 6, 2025.
The motion, raised by House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, highlighted concerns over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of government intervention funds.
Chinda stressed the importance of transparency, noting, “The House is worried that persistent allegations of diversion and mismanagement of these funds, as well as the potential failure to utilise them for their intended purposes, undermine the effectiveness of vital public services and projects.”
In response to these concerns, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas established a Special Committee, led by Emeka Chinedu (PDP, Imo), to examine how Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Government-Owned Enterprises have utilised funds from 2015 to the present.
During the hearing, John Hammah, Acting Director of Development Finance at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), appeared on behalf of CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso.
Hammah pledged the bank’s cooperation but requested additional time to compile accurate data spanning the period under review.
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.
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.
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.
Representing Speaker Abbas at the hearing, House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere reiterated the House’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
With all invited Ministries and entities requesting for more time to make the required information available, it suggests that proper record keeping and documentation might be a shortcoming of federal entities in Nigeria.
