The House of Representatives on Monday threatened to issue warrant of arrest against some government agencies that failed to appear before its Public Accounts Committee to answer questions on why they failed to submit their audited account to the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke, who issued the threat said such agencies have something to hide,stressing that the House was determine to unravel the reason for their refusal.
Specifically, Oke ordered the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority to appear before the committee on Tuesday or risk arrest.
Oke issued the threat at the resumed sitting of the Committee just as the Committee was told that 14 years after its closure, some workers of the Nigeria Mining Corporation have been receiving salaries from government.
Oke also directed that the Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development, the Minister of Water Resources and the Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises should cause an appearance before the committee to answer questions relating to agencies under their supervision.
The Minister for Solid Minerals and Steel Development as well as the Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises are to appear before the House Committee to explain why the agency that has been closed down since 2006 was still drawing salaries from the public funds.Assistant General Manager, Finance of the Nigeria Mining Corporation, Dauda Ibrahim Gambo told that House Committee that agency was closed for privatisation and that they were asked to collaborate with BPE for a successful privatization of the place.
Similarly, about 24 former workers of the Lagos International Trade Fair who were sacked when the agency was concessioned and absolved by the parent ministry are still collecting salaries from the organization.
The Committee however placed all River Basin Development Authority on status enquiry, saying the House wants to get that root of the non rendition of audited account to the office of the Auditor General of the Federation by hon treasury funded and partially funded agencies in accordance with the law.
