By Paschal Emeka, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Population on Wednesday
directed the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz is to present before it a nominal role containing staff records and their state of origin as well as documents containing total expenditure for 2022 as well as their budget proposal for 2023.
This was against the backdrop of the Committee’s inability to lay hands on the detailed document from the Commission on how much they spent from the previous year’s budget as well as the total budget proposal for 2023.
The Chairman House Committee on Population, Hon. Muhammed Lawal issued the directive to the Commission when the DG and his management staff appeared before the lawmakers to defend their 2023 budget at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The Committee had expressed displeasure over the Commission’s inability to present relevant detailed documents that would enable lawmakers to adopt their 2022 budget appraisal as well as approve that of 2023.
A member of the Committee had moved a motion for the Committee to shift the presentation until a more detailed document is presented before them in order to interrogate the Commission on how much they received from the government as well as how those funds were utilized for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Lawmakers in the Committee had unanimously agreed on the need for the Commission to go back home and put its house in order before coming back to defend its budget.
They also advised the Commission to sit up and provide the required documents as such will help members to know exactly how they utilized their last year’s budget before granting their request for another year.
The Committee is of the opinion that funds released to the Commission must be prudently used as Nigeria is in dire need of money to fast-track most of her projects that will add value to the people.
The Chairman of the Committee had earlier explained that as lawmakers it’s one of their constitutional mandates to ensure that funds made available to agencies are used for the benefit of Nigerians.
His Committee, the chairman explained is not out to witch-hunt anybody or an organization but to ensure that budgeting is done based on the need and common interests of Nigeria and Nigerians.
The Director General of NIMC, Engr. Aziz had pleaded with the Committee for leniency which was objected to by members.
He was, however, directed to provide the required documents as well as return unfailingly on Tuesday, 14th Nov. 2022 by 2 p.m. for continuation.