The House of Representatives has mandated the committee on Ecological Fund to investigate the total consolidated mandatory accruals into the ecological fund and its disbursement in line with the provision of the 1999 Constitution, from 2010 to March 2022.
The committee is to also investigate the utilisation of the ecological fund by benefiting the government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from 2010 to March 2022, and establish infractions (if any).
The House further mandated the committee to conduct public hearings with all major stakeholders on the effective and efficient utilisation of the ecological fund and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
These resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Femi Bamisile from Ekiti State at plenary on Thursday.
Moving the motion, Bamisile said the ecological fund was set up by the federal government of Nigeria as an intervention fund to address multifarious ecological challenges across the country.
He noted that the federal government, the 36 states of the federation, the 774 local government areas and the Federal Capital Territory receive funds through the Federal Allocation Committee (FAC) as shares from the Ecological Fund.
“Aware that apart from the annual statutory Appropriations four Agencies of the Federal Government draw Funds from the 1% Share of the Federal Government allocated to Ecology and Derivation Fund according to their respective enabling laws.
“The Agencies are; the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by virtue of Section 13(2) (b) of its Act, draws 20%, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) by virtue of Section 12 (2) (b) of its Act, draws 15%.
“The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) by virtue of Section 14(12) (b) of its Act, draws 10% and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) by virtue of Section 18 (2) (a) of its Act, draws 10%.”, Bamisile stated
The lawmaker expressed worry that efforts at making beneficiaries of the Ecological Fund accountable for their accrued shared funds in the last few years have been ignored.