The House of Representatives has summoned Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele and Accountant-General of the Federation Shamseldeen Ogunjimi to explain how N75 billion reportedly borrowed from the Universal Basic Education Commission will be repaid.
The two officials are expected before the House Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, October 22, to provide a repayment timetable and personally commit to a date for returning the money.
The committee issued the summons at a hearing in Abuja on Friday, October 16, presided over by its Deputy Chairman, Jeremiah Umaru. Lawmakers questioned the withdrawal of money belonging to government agencies to meet other obligations without clear repayment arrangements.
Umaru said the committee wanted terms and conditions for inter-agency borrowing, rather than explanations without a commitment to refund the funds.
“We want to agree on when this money will be paid so that we can close this matter once and for all,” he said.
Punch reported that Ezeoke Christopher, a deputy director representing the Accountant-General’s office, acknowledged the borrowings and described them as internal arrangements to address funding shortfalls and meet statutory obligations. He said the arrangements were partly driven by personnel costs reportedly exceeding N1 trillion a month.
The newspaper said explanations from Christopher and Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Muhammed Danjuma did not satisfy the committee, which insisted on the personal appearance of the two principal officials.
Lawmakers also questioned deductions of up to 50 per cent from some agencies’ revenues, saying these had affected their ability to pay staff and fund operations, according to Punch.
Punch reported that UBEC Executive Secretary Olajumon Akinyemi was also directed to appear on October 22, when the committee intends to address the repayment and related funding issues.
Sources: Punch, Daily Post
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