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| The House of Representatives Committee on Finance |
The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has decided that the 2023 Ministry of Foreign Budget won't be taken into consideration until it completely complies with the 2022 Appropriation Act.
At a 2023 budget defence session on Wednesday in Abuja, the committee's chairman, Yakub Buba (APC-Adamawa), disclosed the position.
He asserted that the ministry must order all missions in Nigeria to adhere to Section 10 of the 2022 Appropriations Act (as Amended).
According to Mr. Buba, the provision enables the mission to make capital purchases without seeking government permission.
The mission has been unable to use the monies it has been given, according to the chairman, despite the committee having written to the ministry requesting that it follow the law.
“We have called the attention of the Minister to this Act, but he has continued to direct the missions not to obey this law in spite of receiving about four letters on the issue, including the latest one of September 6,” he said.
The lawmaker explained that section 7 of the 2022 Appropriation Act states that all unspent funds shall be returned to the federation account at the end of the fiscal year except where the National Assembly gives waivers.
“In total disregard for the above, the ministry has continued to direct missions to retain and spend monies in their capital accounts without any waivers from the National Assembly.
“It is important to note that this committee has continued to draw the attention of the ministry to the above-noted infractions, but all to no avail,” he said.
He said the National Assembly is ahead of the 2023 budget regarding targeted revenues from administrative charges at the missions and embassies.
The lawmaker said the ministry should furnish the committee with the list of unspent funds under the capital component of the missions’ allocations for the necessary waivers of the National Assembly.
(NAN)