Chairman of the committee, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, alongside members of the panel who were angered by the absence of the SGF, Babachir David Lawal, and FRSC boss, Boboye Oyeyemi, described their failures to appear before the committee as “unacceptable.”
According to him, the budget defence of their respective establishments before the committee was all too important to be treated with any amount of levity.
The lawmaker threatened that until the SGF and FRSC boss appear to defend the 2016 budget proposals of their establishments, the committee on its part would not in the least subject their estimates to consideration.
He said: “I cannot understand why the SGF and the head of the FRSC failed to show up to defend their budget. That is not acceptable because the budget defense is something that should be taken seriously.
“Until they are prepared to appear themselves to defend their budgets for this year, I am sorry to say this committee would not entertain representatives.”
Also, the Chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC), Dr. Shettima Bukar Abb, and Acting National Coordinator of Servicom, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli, while appearing separately to defend their commission’s budgets yesterday, lamented that the activities of their respective establishments where restricted due to low funding.
According to him, official of the federal character relied on the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government for funding in the course of carrying out monitoring exercises.
He added that the reliance of the commission’s officials on MDAs for financial support in the course of carrying out their duties exposed them to being compromised.
Responding, Senator Kaura assured that the committee would look into the complaints lodged by the FCC and Servicom with a view to addressing the issue of under-funding.
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