- Safiu Kehinde
Bauchi State lawmaker, Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi, has accused the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, of selectivity in project funding.
Ningi made the allegation while speaking at the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday over the neglect of some already implemented projects and non-payment of contractors since October 2024.
As captured in a post shared on X, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District dismissed claim by the Senate’s appropriation committee that there is shortage of revenue.
Ningi disclosed that some constituencies projects approved long after the neglected ones were fully funded and have since been completed.
“From the committee chairman of appropriation, it is whether or not that we are experiencing shortage of revenue to pay up for these implemented projects.
“Mr. President it is not about procurement. We know of constituencies projects that were completed six months before today.
“Therefore, you being to hear rumours that the Minister of finance and the office of the Accountant General are picking and choosing projects they will finance. It is not right.” Ningi said.
The lawmaker charged the Senate leadership to give the appropriation committee a two-week ultimatum to conduct investigation over the refusal to fund the pending projects.
“Sequel to what I have said, I think the committee on appropriation should be saddled with investigation.
“It is important, even though Senator Yahaya said we have given the leadership that mandate, and Ministry have changed, we need to do what parliament does.
“Give the appropriation committee a mandate of two weeks to present before this chamber why what is happening is happening.” He said.
Also supporting Ningi’s argument was Bayelsa lawmaker, Sen. Seriake Dickson, who faulted the delay in the payment of project contractors.
Seriake disclosed that the recurrent component of the funding has long been released to the beneficiaries while the capital component required by the contractors to carry out the project is being delayed.
He recalled how some of the contractors had some weeks back staged a demonstration over the non-payment of the fund.
“The government has grounded. That’s what it means. Contractors who have done their jobs and committed their resources cannot be paid. The benefit of the budget that we all took time to work on and pass has not gotten to the people.
“And guess what, we are talking of the capital component. The recurrent component which is for the bureaucrats has gotten to them 100 percent.
“The component that has not been released that is still stagnant with nothing moving forward is the real one that belongs to the people of Nigeria for the development of our country, for the people that we represent. It is a very sad situation.
“You will recall that some weeks back, there was a time that contractors, out of frustration and anger, staged demonstration.” He said.
More details later…