Road Construction: Reps Throw Weight Behind Use of Concrete

The House of Representatives Committee on Works says it will adopt the use of concrete for road construction against the use of asphalt.

The Chairman, Mr Akin Alabi, during the inauguration of the Committee at the National Assembly claimed that the use of asphalt had led to the deplorable state of road infrastructure in the country.

Additionally, Mr Alabi stated that the committee was prepared to provide sufficient supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and its parastatals, guaranteeing that any money allocated for road building and repair would be worth it.

He observed that with effective oversight, there would be visible transformation in the nation’s road infrastructure.

“Order 8 (B) Rule 109 of the House Rukes gave the House Committee powers to oversight the Ministry of Works and its parastatals and agencies to ensure that there is value for funds expended on road construction and rehabilitation. Some of the agencies that the House Committee would ensure proper oversight include the Office of Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), School of Surveying Oyo State and the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Survey RECTAS amongst others”.

He continued by saying that because of the difficulties facing the road industry, the committee which has representatives from all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory FCT needs to be more effective and focused.

Reps Pass Nigeria Audit Service Act

The House of Representatives has passed the Nigeria Audit Service Bill, repealing the outdated Audit Ordinance of 1956.

The new bill establishes the Federal Audit Service and grants additional powers and functions to the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The bill, officially titled the “Federal Audit Service Act, 2023,” aims to bring Nigeria’s audit practices in line with current constitutional provisions and eliminate remnants of the country’s colonial past.

The Majority Leader of the House, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who moved for the passage of the Bill, emphasized the necessity of the changes to enhance the independence and impartiality of the Federal Audit Board, enabling it to effectively carry out its statutory responsibilities.

Before the passage of this bill, Nigeria was the only country out of the 54 African nations without an audit law, highlighting the urgency to address this gap in the country’s governance framework.

Under the new law, the Federal Audit Service will function as a board rather than a commission.

Following its passage in the House of Representatives, the Nigeria Audit Service Bill will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, bringing Nigeria closer to a more robust and modern audit system that promotes transparency and accountability in public financial management.

Ibrahim Shehu

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