Trouble looms in Niger as Assembly invites five commissioners over N3bn extra-budgetary spending
- Niger state House of Assembly has invited five commissioners to appear before it on Tuesday, March 16
- The summon was not unconnected with unauthorized spending of N3billion
- The House said it would take administrative action against the commissioners if found culpable of the allegation
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Five commissioners in Niger have been summoned by the state House of Assembly to appear before it on Tuesday, March 16, to explain the alleged extra-budgetary expenditures by their ministries in the 2020 budget.
The Nation reports that this was the resolution of the House after a motion on a matter of urgent public importance was presented at the plenary by a member representing Bosso constituency, Malik Madaki, who raised the issue.
Legit.ng gathered that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion for the invitation of the commissioners was seconded by Malam Abba Bala, a member representing Borgu in Minna, on Thursday, March 11.
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The report noted that those directed to appear before the legislators are the commissioners of finance, planning, justice, works and sports.
Abdullahi Bawa, the speaker of the House, while reading the resolutions of the House, directed the five commissioners to appear before the House and explain the alleged unconstitutional act and why administrative action should not be taken against them.
Madaki had raised concern that the state government carried out expenditure outside what was approved in the appropriation law of 2020.
He said the ministry of works expended over N2 billion while that of sports spent N360 million and justice spent N450 million which was above the approved 2020 budget of the ministries.
The lawmaker said that the additional expenditures of the ministries were not authorised by the House through supplementary appropriation as required under section 120, subsection two of the 1999 constitution as amended.
He described the acts as unconstitutional and unlawful, adding that the monies spent were out of public funds of the state.
Madaki also noted that the lawmakers could not fold their hands and allow public funds to be spent without following due process as the monies were not approved in the 2020 budget or in a supplementary budget.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 11, lamented that it is seriously bankrupt.
It was reported that the spokesman of the House, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Abia, Benjamin Kalu, made this disclosure to newsmen in Abuja.
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Wale Akinola is a passionate journalist and researcher. He works as a senior political/current affairs editor at Legit.ng. He holds both B.A and Master’s degree in Communications and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a Diploma Certificate in Peace Journalism. He has over 15 years of work experience in both print and online media. He derives joy in keeping the public abreast of current happenings locally and internationally through his writings.
Source: Legit.ng
