The House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development is probing the ₦1.5bn meant for the payment of contractors, but allegedly diverted by principal officers of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The Director of Finance of the ministry, Aloy Ifeakandu, during an interactive session with the committee on Thursday, said he only complied with official directives from his superiors, saying the records were available.
The session followed a petition by contractors of the ministry to the House of Representatives, over non-payment of contracts executed running into billions of naira.
Speaking during the interactive session, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara said that the ministry initiated new contracts not captured in the 2023 budget and diverted (₦1.5bn) funds for old contractors.
She added that the ministry while owing contractors, awarded fresh contracts in 15 states of the federation, similarly not captured in the 2023 appropriation.
“Money for contractors has not been paid and money has been diverted, so how do you pay these contractors” She asked.
She said there is an ongoing probe of the ministry by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on overhead release of November/December, 2023, to the tune of ₦1.5bn.
The petitioners, according to Ogbara also alleged that the ministry purchased seven tricycles for a military Barack in Abuja, an allegation a procurement officer of the ministry denied.
Continuing, the committee noted that the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding MoU with the American University of Nigeria, Yola for the payment of Chibok girls’ school fees for seven years.
Responding to some of the allegations, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda who exonerated himself, explained that in “2023 we had a total budget of ₦13.6bn. The total release was ₦3.4bn, translating to 25 per cent, budget utilisation ₦3.4bn, while unreleased balance stood at N10.2bn”.
However, the DFA, said “I resumed at the ministry in September 2023, I wouldn’t know what happened before I came.
“The individual contractors have their files, it can be traced, as at the time I took over, there was no balance in the vote” he said.
Amidst the controversy, correspondence from the office of the Accountant General of the federation revealed that the said ₦1.5 bn has been released to the ministry.
“Since the minister came on board, no payment has been made, the permanent secretary said the minister ordered him not to pay any contractor” the petitioners said.
Meanwhile, the committee has summoned the minister of women affairs and social development, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, to appear on Tuesday.
“We are giving till Tuesday for the ministry to bring all documents to come and defend where the N1.5bn disappeared to”.
The committee also ordered the ministry to stop all contract processes in 2024, “until we resolve this matter”.
Additionally, the committee also sought to see the special account for the Chibok girls and the MoU.
