Reps Committee Summons Emefiele, Fashola, Aregbesola, Over Auditor-General’s Report 

 

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, and the Minister of  Interior, Rauf Aregbesola to explain the inflow into the country’s foreign reserves.

Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke who is representing Osun State constituency of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issued the directive on Tuesday during the hearing into 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 reports of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

Other ministers also summoned include; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Ali Pantami and the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.

The ministers are to appear before the committee alongside their permanent secretaries and directors of finance.

The committee on Public Accounts is investigating the alleged non-disclosure of over $40 million recovered funds between 2016 and 2019 as stated in the reports of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

A team from the CBN had visited the committee but had unsatisfactory answers which led to the summon of the CBN Governor, to give clearer details.

The committee chairman also the Ministry of Works had asked for an extension on five different occasions.

Mr Oke then directed the clerk of the committee to write a letter to Mr Fashola to appear before the committee.

“We have invited the Ministry of Works and over five times they have written us to ask for more time, we cannot continue like this,” he said.

“For the last time, even though the permanent secretary is the chief account officer of the ministry pursuant to section 20 of procurement Act, do a letter to the Minister.”

“Copy the Chief of Staff to the President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation – that the Minister should bring the permanent secretary, director of finance to appear before this committee within seven days.

“Similarly, this ruling applies to the Ministry of Interior, the minister should bring the Permanent Secretary, the CG Immigration, the CG Fire Service, and CG Civil Defence.

“Same applies to the Federal Ministry of Health, the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy,” Mr Oke added.