The House of Representatives Committee On Women Affairs and Social Development has summoned the minister in charge of the ministry, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye to appear on Tuesday over N1.5 billion owed contractors.
It also ordered for the stoppage of all 2024 contract processes by the Ministry of Women Affairs until the whereabouts of the money were determined.
Chairperson of the committee, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, gave the directive after submissions by the Permanent Secretary and other officials of the ministry during the investigative hearing of the committee on Thursday.
The committee is investigating the alleged diversion of N1.5billion meant for the payment of contractors after it received a petition from the contractors over non payment for the contracts they executed for the ministry.
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According to the chairperson, the ministry has initiated new contracts not captured in the 2023 budget and allegedly diverted the N1.5bn set aside for the payment of old contractors.
She lamented that the ministry awarded fresh contracts in 15 states which were not captured in the 2023 Appropriation while owing contractors.
Ogbara also alleged that the ministry purchased seven tricycles for a military baracks in Abuja.
The lawmaker added, “Money for contractors has not been paid and money has been diverted. So how do you pay these contractors?”
She further informed that, there is an ongoing probe of the ministry on overhead release of November/December, 2023 to the tune of N1.5bn by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda explained that in “2023 we had total budget of N13.6billion, total release was N3.4billion, translating to 25 percent, budget utilization N3.4billion, while unreleased balance stood at N10.2billion”.
On his part, the Director of Finance, Aloy Ifeakandu said he resumed at the ministry in September 2023, so he wouldn’t know what happened before he came.
He said, “The individual contractors have their files, it can be traced. As at the time I took over, there was no balance in the vote”.
He added that he only complied with official directives from his superiors, saying that the records are available.
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