House of Representatives has threatened to stop the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA and the North East Development Commission NEDC from accessing the Ecological Fund.
Chairman House committee on Ecological funds Mr Ibrahim Isiaka issued the threat at a public hearing on a bill for an act establishing the regulation of Ecological funds.
Mr Ibrahim Isiaka,said in spite of several letters from the committee inviting
the two agencies to account for their own share of the fund, both have refused to furnish the committee with the necessary information.
The committee chairman pointed out that 35 percent of the Federal Government 1 percent share of the Ecology Fund is being drawn by four Government Agencies in different percentages in which NEMA and NEDC are among.
In a remark, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, faulted the Bill, saying over the years, the Ecological Fund have consistently been placed under the control of the President, stressing that the proposed bill will therefore negate the nature and original design of the Ecological Fund Office.
Mr Boss Mustafa, explained that the Ecological Fund as presently constituted is not subject to the process of appropriation by the National Assembly, which according to him, gives the President the much needed flexibility to effectively respond to ecological emergencies the fund is created to address.
He emphaszed that creation of an independent agency as contained in the bill will run contrary to the proposals of the Oransanye’s Committee on rationalization of Government Ministries and Extra Ministerial Departments as it would further add to the cost of governance.
Salihu Muhammad Tsubiri, Abuja
