The House of Representatives has faulted the management of National Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) for full payment to contractors for ongoing projects in the 2023 fiscal year.
Chairman of the House Committee on Hydrological Service Agency, Hon. Pascal Agbodike, and members of the committee expressed their dissatisfaction at the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget defence.
The lawmakers who frowned at various infractions in the implementation of the 2023 Appropriation Act, accused the agency’s management of embarking on “extra budgetary spending”.
NIHSA director general, Clement Nze, said the agency formally notified the office of the accountant general of the federation on the unspent fund meant for outstanding projects in the 2022 Appropriation Act.
According to him, the AGF in its response wrote back to the agency that the money had been returned to its coffee in 2023 to ensure that it completes the projects.
Presenting the 2024 budget, Nze disclosed that N1.266 billion was proposed for capital expenditure, while personnel is for N472.914 million and overhead is N118.411 million under the recurrent expenditure, adding that the agency was expected to generate N5 million for the 2024 fiscal year.
A member of the committee, Hon. Ahmed Jaha who expressed displeasure over the budget presentation, said: “After going through your submission honestly this is not a budget document. You expect all of us to sit here and approve. You didn’t explain what constitutes your recurrent”.
He urged the committee to step down the consideration of the 2024 budget proposal saying: “There’s a need for this committee to step down this submission, if at the end of this exercise, your agency is not considered for the 2024 budget you will take us serious”.
