The Senate committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs Monday demanded explanations from the Federal Government over its decision not to vote funds for capital projects in the 2016 budget of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The committee resolved to probe the zero capital allocation to the commission during its oversight visit to the commission’s office in Abuja.
It said that the investigation became necessary in order to address growing concerns and observations raised by the leadership of NAHCON.
Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, noted the committee would immediately write to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to seek explanation over the development.
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Abdullahi Mukhtar, who gave highlights of the budget performance of the commission, told members of the committee that no funds were appropriated for capital expenditure in 2016 budget.
Mukhar said, “The present challenge facing the commission at present is office accommodation. As at today the present office being occupied by the commission’s head office is a rented apartment and funding of the rent along with the zonal offices rent is not being adequately provided for in the overhead appropriation. Proposal for construction of commission’s permanent site in Abuja was not captured in 2016 appropriation act.”
The NAHCON boss noted that out of N617, 524,914 appropriated for overhead cost, the sum of N91, 348,017 was released to date leaving a balance of N526, 176,896 million.
He told the committee that all attempts to have the Finance Ministry to allocate funds for capital projects failed.
The chairman pleaded with the Senate to give its support by way of input in the 2017 budget needed to enhance NAHCON’s performance to be at par with international standards.
Senator Hunkuyi, said, “across the board, most agencies we have gone to, we found that capital releases has been phenomenal in comparison to the last sixteen years. I stand to be corrected on this.”
Speaking on the zero budget allocation for capital in NAHCON’s 2016 budget, Senator Hunkuyi added, “There are explanations that should come from here, and additional explanations from the office of the SGF. This committee needs this information to be able to understand what is going on.
“This committee is duty bound to investigate and define the nature of the problem with a view to finding solutions to these problems, if indeed there are.”
The Kaduna North senatorial district lawmaker who commended NAHCON’s chairman for his achievements so far, asked the commission to come up with strong arguments to justify its request for increased funding.
He said, “It is commendable that despite the releases made to the commission, you have been able to utilize what was given in such a way that you achieved so much. Therefore, asking for more funding would raise concerns as to why you are making such a request since you you were able to realise so much with little.
“However, I think if the commission wants more funding, it has to come up with strong explanations to back its demands.”
Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character, Senator Tijjani Kaura (Zamfara North), said that the reason for the panel’s oversight visit to the commission was for it to be briefed on the implementation of the 2016 budget.
