By Paschal Emeka, Abuja / posted November 7, 2022

The Speaker House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has disclosed that the 9th House of Representatives is committed to address all the identifiable environmental and ecological damage that has both resulted from and accelerated the occurrence and consequences of ozone layer depletion, flooding issues, desertification, depletion of water reserves, pollution of oceans and rivers, depletion of marine life and coral reefs, oil pollution and toxic waste disposal.

The Speaker revealed this at an Investigative Hearing on the Total Consolidated Accruals and Utilization of Ecological Funds, organized by the House Committee on Ecological Fund on Monday in Abuja.

He stated that “with each passing day, the wisdom of this commitment becomes more evident and the urgency becomes direr.

Hon. Gbajabiamila outlined the objective of the Investigative Hearing to include; to gather data to design public policy and guide governance decision making.

“It is not an exercise in witch-hunting or score-settling. For this hearing to have the best outcomes, all relevant stakeholders must engage conscientiously and with respect for each other and the institution of Parliament.

“When the Committee requests information and context, the proper response is to provide what is asked.

Recall that the House of Representatives on Thursday, 23rd June 2022, mandated the Committee on Ecological Fund to investigate the total consolidated mandatory accruals into the Ecological Fund of the Federation.

The House additionally mandated the Committee to evaluate disbursements from the Ecological Fund and assess compliance with the objectives of the Fund and the nation’s laws.

The Ecological Fund of the Federation was established to provide resources for protecting the natural environment and funding repairs and developments necessary to prevent harm.

The dedicated pool of resources in the Ecological Fund is also intended for emergency response and remediation during environmental and natural disasters.

The Speaker therefore noted that the “hearing has been convened at a time when millions of our citizens are suffering the adverse effects of a devastating flood across the country.

“One of the questions for this hearing is to what extent the Ecological Fund has been helpful at this moment of national ecological disaster,” he said.