House probes N1.2bn Sokoto river basin funds

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the circumstances that led to the finance ministry’s withholding of N1.17 billion meant for projects execution by the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority. The lawmakers wondered why the money that was approved by the same ministry for agency’s capital projects in the 2014 budget would be […]

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the circumstances that led to the finance ministry’s withholding of N1.17 billion meant for projects execution by the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority.
The lawmakers wondered why the money that was approved by the same ministry for agency’s capital projects in the 2014 budget would be retrieved without explanations.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Rep Musa Sarkin Adar (APC, Sokoto), which said the ministry had “without any reason instructed the Bank to keep the money on hold.”
He said in April this year, the ministry “inexplicably” asked the bank where the money was domiciling to return the amount to the ministry’s coffers.
This action, he said “rendered the authority incapable of discharging its contractual obligations and also stoppage of execution of project.
“The ministry has failed/refused to respond to a formal complaint made to it by the authority over the matter,” he said.
The House agreed to set up an ad hoc committee that will look into the situation and report back within one week.