Chairman House Committee on Women affairs and social development, Hon. Khalifa Ogbara,
Abuja (Core Reporters) Leaders in Nigeria have continuing exhibition of dramatic prowess in their respective positions. Members of the House of Representatives on women affairs and social development engaged the Minister of women affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye in one of those dramatic episodes, though over an alleged diversion of 1.5 billion naira meant for payment of contractors by official of the ministry.
This episode played out on Tuesday during an investigative hearing organised by the committee where the minister was asked to give account of how monies meant for contractors paid by the Accountant General’s office were expended by the ministry.
Kennedy-Ohanenye in her account said though 30 percent of the total sum meant for contractors where paid to her ministry but can not give account of how it was spent because the first Lady, Oluremi Tinubu had advised her to mind her business.
She noted that the fact that the complete money was not released to the ministry was part of why the contractors are been owed.
According to her, “If not that the money of this year has been delayed, I’m sure we wouldn’t be here today. Because we could have paid out some of these liabilities. But since this year, no project money has been released to any ministry. And that was a constraint.
A member of the Commitee, Marie Nenemete Ebikake, however questioned the minister on the African First Lady Peace Mission project of about 500 million naira, asking the minster to tell the Commitee how the money was utilized, where the project was located and those involved.
“Honorable Minister and Permanent Secretary with DFA, last time when we came, that was on Thursday, we did raise an issue of African First Lady Peace Mission projects. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any concrete answer to the issue.
“It was carried over to today. So now that we are here, Honorable Minister, could you please educate the committee on the functions of African First Lady Peace Mission projects, taking into cognizance of funds allocated for the project in the past. Year 2020, 500 million, 2021, 225 million, 2022, 500 million, 2023, 150 million. Where is the office situated and the organogram?
In her response, the Minister however explained that the 150 million naira that was appropriated in 2023 was eventually given to the former first lady, Aisha Buhari who eventually told her it was meant for the purchase of generator .
“About the First Lady’s funds. The 500 million you were talking about, I wasn’t there when it happened. When I came in, I saw it on the appropriation act. And I went to my First Lady. We discussed. She said that particular money was not meant for her.
“That it was meant for the former First Lady because that was when that money was allocated. And the former First Lady later called me and said they wanted to use it and buy generator. And in the process, she was out of the country.
“It took her a while. She came back, called me, and she brought the person that was going to come and organize how they would get the generator. And I introduced that person to the procurement officer then, who is now retired.
“So that they could work it out according to the rules and regulations of procurement. And they’ve been on it. Once in a while, I talk with the First Lady to find out what’s going on. And that’s the last I heard of that.
At this point Members of the committee were surprise that the Minister couldn’t identify the contractors or address of the Contractors who executed the African First Lady Peace Mission project.
In her response, the Minister said, “Let me explain. This is First Lady’s. My First Lady will tell you, focus on your work. And she focuses on her work.
“She just advises me. And when they came there, I am not a First Lady and I can’t overstep my bounds. All I went to tell her that there is some amount of money on the appropriation act. for her office and I went there to tell her. I have no business much to do with First Lady’s buildings. Because I have to only take directives when given”.
Reacting, another Member of the Committee told the Minister: “Well, you disburse public funds on First Lady’s issues. Is it not so? The office space, was it not paid with public funds of the Nigerian people? Let the director that is in charge speak, ma’am. Please.
“I won’t answer what is not within my purview, the Minister responded.
The Committee Members at this point insisted to know if it was the first Lady Oluremi Tinubu that directed the Minister to hand over the money to the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Khalifa Ogbara, in her question, said, “when you resumed, you met the money in the account of your ministry. Because you said this money is for the former First Lady, are you saying it was the former First Lady that requested that the money be used for the generator or is it the current First Lady?
Responding, the Minister said, “Like I said, I’m not the accountant. I don’t usually know what you have”.
The Minister further insisted to explain herself: “No, but I’m trying to explain myself, Like I said, I’m not an accountant to know how much cash they have in their bank statements. All I can see is the appropriation paper, the budget. And it was right there in the budget of last year. It was there”.
“My question is, was the money budgeted for the last First Lady? and I’ll ask you, is it the former First Lady that contacted you that the money is going to be used for the generator or not”? The chairman asked the Minister again.
In her response, the Minister said “No, it was budgeted by the ministry.
“I can’t answer that, because I don’t know who requested it was supposed to go to procurement.No First Lady called me. I called. I called. I never said a First Lady called, I called to say this is what I saw on the appropriation paper. That was what I said.
“Let me not be misquoted. Let me not be misquoted. I never said it was meant for the First Lady.
“I said when I saw for First Lady’s mission, that was the name of the corporation. I don’t know whether it has been used or not. We directed them, anything that will be done is supposed to go through procurement, the normal process”
At this point, the chairman of the Committee asked the procurement officer to explain to the Committee how the money was spent.
According to him, “The project was awarded. But I don’t know anything about it, it is ongoing”.
The Chairman further asked the procurement officer, if the Minister was aware of the project.
While trying to respond, the Minister interjected by saying, “I am not getting very comfortable anymore. Because I don’t even understand this question.
“The procurement do their job. I don’t get myself involved. If anything has been going through on that, it’s supposed to go through the normal process. I don’t get myself involved. Procurement officer”.
The Committee Chairman, at this point, suspended the hearing, indefinitely, due to the confrontation from the Minister to the Committee.
