By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives Committee on Finance on Monday summoned the Managing Director of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Commission (NBET) (TCN), Mnaemwka Ewelukwa, the over his failure to appear before it to defend the agency’s 2023 budget proposal.
The chairman of the committee, James Faleke, issued the summon during a scheduled budget defence session with some agencies of the federal government in Abuja.
Some of the agencies of federal government to appear before the committee, are Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning; Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF); Budget Office and Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.
Others include Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission as well as the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Commission (NBET).
Hon. Faleke accused the MD of NBET of ignoring their invitations several times with some lawmakers threatening that the House might withhold the appropriation of the agency if the MD of NBET fails to appear before the committee on Thursday.
The Chairman of the Committee, Faleke said Ewelukwa intentionally shunned their invitations because he was avoiding answering questions on the Azura power plants purchase agreement.
A senior director of the agency, who represented the managing director, was however turned back as the lawmakers insisted that the MD must appear in person before the committee unfailingly by Oct. 27.
The Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Mr Victor Muruako, has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the amendments of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The chairman told the lawmakers that there were no punishments for over 40 offences outlined by the Act, thereby hampering the operations of the commission.
