From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Hydrological Services, at the weekend, grilled the National Hydrology Service Agency (NIHSA) over alleged discrepancies in its 2024 budget estimates. The chairman of the Committee, Paschal Agbodike, as well as members of the Committee, during a budget defence, also observed that there were alleged infractions in the implementation of the agency’s 2023 budget.
The Director General of the NIHSA, Clement Nze, had told the lawmakers that agency formally notified the office of the Accountant General of the Federation on the unspent fund meant for outstanding projects in the 2022 Appropriation Act. According to him, the OAGF in its response wrote back to the Agency that the money had been returned to the Agency’s coffers in 2023 to ensure the Agency completed the projects. The DG, while presenting the 2024 budget estimates, explained that the sum of N1.266 billion was proposed for capital expenditure, while N472.914 million is proposed for personnel and N118.411 million for overhead. He added that the Agency is expected to generate N5 million for 2024 fiscal year.
However, Ahmed Jaha picked holes in the Eze’s presentation, stating, “After going through your submission, honestly this is not a budget document.” Jaha queried why the agency would make full payment for an ongoing project in the 2023 fiscal year. The lawmaker demanded that the agency should furnish the committee with details of its projects in the 2023 fiscal year. “In the capital you have to state categorically the date of award of that particular project, which is not here.”You wrote it to us the date of award but it’s not written. Does that mean they were all awarded at the same time? You have to state clearly there. And in your remarks you said ongoing after paying 100 percent, you have already paid contractor 100 percent and you still said ongoing.
“In order words, the project is under execution. Why will you pay a company ahead of a certificate tendered by the company for payment? It’s misappropriation.” “So, Sir, we have to have this detail, company A was paid a, x, y on so so so date, and was paid x, y on so so date; x, y on so so date. Now the organization is owing the contractor x figure, “ Jaha stated. Agbodike, in his ruling directed the NIHSA Director General and his team to re-present the 2023 Appropriation performance and the 2024 budget proposal before the Committee, on Monday, for further legislative scrutiny.