Reps Committee Accuses NIHSA of Extra-Budgetary Spending

By Ibrahim Shehu

The House of Representatives has tackled management of National Hydrological Service Agency, NIHSA, over what it described as extra-budgetary spending.

The Chairman, House Committee on Hydrological Service Agency, Mr Pascal Agbodike and members of the committee made the observation during the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget defence session.

During the session, the lawmakers who frowned at various infractions in the implementation of the 2023 Appropriation Act queried the payment of multiple billions of naira to contactors for ongoing projects in the 2023 fiscal year.

The Director General of NIHSA, Engineer Clement Nze, explained that the agency formally notified the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, on the unspent funds meant for outstanding projects in 2022 Appropriation Act and the oAGF in its response wrote back that the money has been returned to the agency’s coffers in 2023 to ensure it complete the projects.

Ruling on the matter, the committee chairman directed the NIHSA Director General and his team to re-present and submit the 2023 Appropriation performance and the 2024 budget proposal on Monday for further legislative scrutiny.

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