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Tag: Reps

  • Reps call for investigation of scarcity of naira notes

    Reps call for investigation of scarcity of naira notes

    The House of Representatives has called for an investigation into the current scarcity of currency notes in commercial banks to address the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

    Adopting a motion of urgent public importance by Uguru Emmanuel (APC, Ebonyi), the House asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately address the issue of scarcity of the naira notes and call the commercial banks to order if it is not responsible for the hardship/

    Uguru said one of the major factors that stimulate economic growth is Consumer spending and business investment, adding that cash supply shortages in Commercial Banks have dire consequences on individuals and the nation’s economy.

    He recalled that on 21st December 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria by a policy contained in a circular number BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/015/073 reviewed the cash withdrawal limits across all channels to N500,000 and N5,000,000 for individuals and Corporate entities respectively, a decision that is not known to have been repealed.

    He expressed concern that the Commercial Banks in the Country have jettisoned this policy as they can hardly give N50,000.00 to even current account holders.

    He said the cash crunch in Commercial Banks in the Country has become a dog in the wheel of economic activities, as entrepreneurs are subjected to long queues and sometimes spend a whole day or two in the Bank with a loss of man-hours only to get ten thousand Naira (N10,000) and in most cases go back home with nothing, subjecting these class of persons who have no access to point of sale (POS) that is mostly not applicable in some articles of trade especially in the rural areas to hopelessness.

    Read Also: Reps urge police to grant 90-day grace period for compliance on tinted glasses

    According to him, this has caused untold hardship to this uninformed populace most of whom are rural dwellers we are representing, hence this cry to protect their interest, as lives could even be lost for lack of funds (cash) to take their sick ones to hospital and sometimes nothing to buy food with.

    He said while the Commercial Banks have no money to dispense, the POS operators have in their disposals up to one million Naira in mint to sell to their cronies and the public, and the pertinent question is; where do they get the money from?

    He said if the Central Bank of Nigeria continue to starve Commercial Banks of cash, especially as we approach the yuletide season, many people and even businesses will be frustrated and people plunged into untold hardship.

  • New COVID-19 variant: Reps want strict surveillance at entry point

    New COVID-19 variant: Reps want strict surveillance at entry point

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other relevant government agencies to ensure surveillance method is intensified at all international borders and point of entry into the country to check a possible outbreak of the new COVID-19 variant announced recently by the World Health Organisation.

    The House asked the government to provide thermal machines, infrared thermometers for temperature screening, and deployment of personnel to conduct screening and quarantine services on all inbound passengers into the country.

    Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Uyime Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom), the House asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to sensitize the Nigerian public on the XEC variant;

    Also, the House ask all health authorities to activate heightened alert systems in monitoring and consequently reporting any suspected cases.

    Idem said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on global public health and economies, including Nigeria, adding that though it is notable that Nigeria made significant strides in combating the first strain of COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to remain vigilant and proactive in the face of emerging threats.

    He said the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently issued a global alert regarding a new COVID-19 variant, XEC, with similar symptoms to the former strain. The XEC variant, a hybrid strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, has been detected in several countries worldwide, including those with high vaccination rates.

    Read Also: Reps urge police to grant 90-day grace period for compliance on tinted glasses

    According to him, as of September 24, 2024, the WHO designated the XEC as a variant under monitoring, and initial experimental data suggests that this COVID variant exhibited increased infectiousness and unique changes that may contribute to relatively higher immune evasion.

    He expressed concern that the XEC COVID-19 variant was first detected in May, 2024, and has reportedly spread across 43 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Denmark, infecting more than 600 people, saying the XEC variant is expected to continue spreading globally, with potential increase in cases during the winter season.

    H said the emergence of the XEC COVID-19 variant in Africa poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s public health considering the recent detection of an index case in Botswana, involving a hospitalized European traveler, thereby raising concerns about the potential spread of the variant across the continent.

    He said the limited testing and sequencing capabilities in Africa make it challenging to determine the extent of the variant’s spread, leaving Nigeria vulnerable to a potential outbreak.

    The Akwa Ibom lawmaker said the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has urged health authorities to activate heightened alert systems in response to this XEC COVID-19 variant that is rapidly spreading across the globe, and has consequently tried averting public panic.

    He said the XEC variant, a highly transmissible strain of COVID-19, poses a significant concern, and to mitigate its spread, Nigeria must promptly assess the variant’s potential impact and implement effective countermeasures considering the festive season, with its high influx of travelers.

  • Reps urge police to grant 90-day grace period for compliance on tinted glasses

    Reps urge police to grant 90-day grace period for compliance on tinted glasses

    The House of Representatives has directed the FCT Police Command to allow a 90-day grace period for vehicle owners in the territory to comply with the directive on tinted windows and covered number plates.

    The House also instructed the command to cease the indiscriminate harassment of motorists and to release vehicles impounded solely for these violations, as long as no other infractions are involved.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya. 

    The House further directed the Committee on Police Affairs to engage with the Nigeria Police Force leadership to establish clear enforcement guidelines for such directives in the future. 

    This includes ensuring adequate public awareness and reasonable timelines before implementation.

    Additionally, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to launch a public enlightenment campaign, informing citizens about the regulations and the process for obtaining the necessary permits or making required modifications to their vehicles.

    Read Also: Tension in Osun PDP as Reps member Oke criticises Adeleke’s leadership style

    Shagaya recalled that the recent directive by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command enforcing a ban on vehicles with tinted glasses and covered number plates, as part of efforts to curb rising criminal activities such as kidnapping.

    He said while the intent of this directive is to enhance security within the FCT, the abrupt enforcement without adequate public notice has led to widespread harassment of motorists and significant inconvenience to law-abiding citizens.

    He said that the lack of sufficient time for vehicle owners to comply with the new regulations has resulted in numerous vehicles being impounded, causing undue hardship and potential economic losses to individuals and businesses.

    While recognising the importance of security measures to protect citizens, he emphasises that such measures must be implemented in a manner that respects the rights of individuals and allows for reasonable compliance timelines.

  • Reps C’ttee issues 7-day ultimatum  to NRC to submit PPP documents

    Reps C’ttee issues 7-day ultimatum  to NRC to submit PPP documents

    The House of Representatives Committee on Public Asset and Special Duties has given the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) seven days to provide all documents relating to its current Public-Private-Partnership (PPP). 

    The management of the corporation is also to provide detail information on a trending video suggesting unidentified persons carting away facilities from a train station. 

    Chairman of the Committee, Ademorin Kuye who made the demand at a public hearing on the need investigate and assess the performance of PPP programmes and concession said the ultimatum became necessary following failure of the corporation to submit the documents as earlier requested. 

    He said documents on all agreements related to each asset of PPP and programmes, concessions abd lease agreements with commencement date should be submitted.

    Kuye said that documents on evidence of remittances to the Special Concession Account, income profile from PPPs/Concession/Lease, and specific achievements recorded by the period under reference should be tendered. 

    The chairman asked the management to tender documents and evidence of advertisement of PPPs/concession/lease and expression of interests on the leases.

    According to him, the committee is also interested in document on the challenges, problems,constraints of mandate implementation and recommendations for improvement

    According to him, they need to see items budgeted for and the level of implementation on all projects in the forth coming oversight.

    The chairman also demanded a detailed report from the NRC on a trending video which showed yet-to-be identified individual carting away assets from one of the train stations in the country. 

    Kuye said that information available to the committee suggests that such criminal activities were allegedly carried out in Niger, Bauchi Nasarawa, Lagos among other states of the country. 

    He said that the committee will do all that is required to ensure perpetrators and their accomplices are made to answer for their actions. 

    Read Also: Reps seek reduction of security checkpoints on Onitsha-Enugu expressway

    “Failure to submit these documents and reports on or before December 11 2024 would force the committee to invoke its constitutional powers against the NRC,” he said. 

    Responding, the acting Managing Director of NRC, Mr Benjamin Iloanusi apologised to the committee for not submitting all the required documents, blaming it on miscommunication saying that they submitted documents in accordance to the earlier letter received. 

    Iloanusi, however, appealed for some time to enable the corporation submit detailed documents as requested by the committee.

    He also urged the committee to share the trending video to enable him carry out an internal investigation with a view to location the station and the individuals involved.

  • Reps seek reduction of security checkpoints on Onitsha-Enugu expressway

    Reps seek reduction of security checkpoints on Onitsha-Enugu expressway

    The House of Representatives has called on security agencies to reduce the excessive security checkpoints on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway

    It mandated the Committees on Defence, Army, and Police Affairs to dialogue with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to explore alternative security strategies that will not subject people to hardship or violate their constitutional rights.

    The House further mandated the Committee on National Security and Intelligence to engage its relevant agencies and advocate for community-based security initiatives and improved intelligence gathering to effectively address regional security concerns.

    It also mandated the Committees on Defence, Police Affairs, and National Security to intensify strict oversight to ensure that security operatives act within the bounds of the law and do not use their positions to harass or exploit citizens.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah.

    The House noted that Nigeria’s security agencies, including the Nigeria Army, Police Force, and FRSC, primarily operate checkpoints on major roads, with the distance between Onitsha and Enugu being approximately 100 km.

    The House said it was aware that the distance between Onitsha and Enugu is approximately 105 kilometres with about 28 security checkpoints with an average of 3.7 km each in the following locations; Awkuzu Junction, Amawbia Junction, Ugwuoba Boundary, Oji River Junction, and Onyeama Hill thus subjecting travellers to constant harassment, delays, and extortions.

    It also noted that the mounting of numerous checkpoints along the expressway violates Nigerian citizens’ constitutional rights to free movement as enshrined in Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and directly affronts the dignity of the people, especially in the South-East.

    The House worried that these security checkpoints are perceived as tools for harassment, with citizens often forced to pay bribes, negatively impacting socio-economic life by increasing transportation costs, causing delays, and discouraging economic activities.

    The House said it was cognizant that the current approach to security, which involves increasing excessive checkpoints is detrimental to the region’s economic stability and it’s counterproductive.

    It also said it was cognizant of the need to advocate for modern, efficient security methods that do not cause hardship or violate the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

  • Reps seek special consideration for border communities in palliative distribution

    Reps seek special consideration for border communities in palliative distribution

    The House of Representatives has called on the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Agricultural Production and Food Security, Finance, Labour Employment, and Productivity, and their relevant agencies to give special consideration to Nigerian land border communities in the allocation and distribution of palliatives. 

    This measure aims to cushion the effects of high fuel costs and resultant inflation.

    The Committees on Poverty Alleviation, Agricultural Production and Services, Finance, Labour Employment, and Productivity have been mandated to ensure compliance and report within four weeks for further legislative action. 

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Give Consideration in the Provision of Palliative to Citizens in Nigeria Border Communities,” sponsored by Hon. Adegboyega Nasir Isiaka.

    The House noted that a resolution was passed on July 11, 2023, urging the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Customs Service to lift the ban on petroleum products moving 20 km to and from the border.

    The House said it was also aware that the resolution is yet to be implemented by the Nigerian Customs Service for unspecified reasons.

    The House worried that this has continued to cause untold hardship for those living within 20 kilometres of the Nigerian land border of approximately 4,050 kilometres.

    It said while the dwellers of the urban and semi-urban communities in Nigeria currently buy PMS at N1,200 per litre, the effective cost per litre to residents and small-scale businesses in the border communities is close to N2,000 per litre.

    This, it said, is in addition to the other deprivations to the highly vulnerable people in the periphery of the country, notably poor infrastructural and social amenities.

    The House also worried that the situation could get worse if urgent intervention is not taken by the federal government to lift the ban on petroleum products moving 20 km to and from the border in the Communities.

  • Bill to prohibit gas flaring passes second reading in House of Reps

    Bill to prohibit gas flaring passes second reading in House of Reps

    A bill to prohibit gas flaring and criminalize the practice while encouraging gas utilization in Nigeria, sponsored by Babajimi Benson, the member representing Ikorodu federal constituency of Lagos State, passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

    The bill seeks to prohibit the flaring and venting of natural gas, except in strictly regulated circumstances, while promoting the utilization of gas resources to foster economic growth and energy generation. It also provides a robust framework for enforcement, monitoring, and the imposition of penalties to ensure compliance.

    Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Benson stated that it aims to mitigate the environmental, health, and economic impacts of gas flaring, aligning Nigeria’s oil and gas operations with international climate change commitments.

    He argued that gas flaring has plagued Nigeria for decades, leading to severe environmental degradation, public health crises, and economic losses, while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and acid rain, exacerbating climate challenges.

    The Lagos lawmaker said Public health impacts are equally dire, as pollutants from gas flaring cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, particularly among residents of communities close to flaring sites.

    On the economic front, he said, gas flaring results in the waste of a valuable resource that could otherwise be harnessed for energy generation or exported to generate revenue, adding that the bill is designed to address these issues while bringing Nigeria in line with global standards such as the Paris Agreement on climate change.

    According to him, the Bill provides for a comprehensive prohibition of gas flaring except in emergencies or when explicitly authorised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Operators are required to submit and implement Gas Utilisation Plans, detailing how gas that would otherwise be flared will be captured, processed, or commercialised.

    He stressed that offenders who violate these provisions face stringent penalties, including fines of $5 per 1,000 standard cubic feet of gas flared and potential suspension of operations for repeat violations. Furthermore, the Bill ensures that communities affected by gas flaring are entitled to compensation and environmental restoration, creating a mechanism for redress.

    He said further that transparency and accountability are integral to the enforcement framework of this Bill. Operators must submit regular reports on gas flaring incidents, which will be audited and made publicly available by the NUPRC. This approach ensures public oversight and stakeholder engagement, fostering trust and compliance.

    Benson said the bill is expected to yield significant benefits. Environmentally, it will reduce carbon emissions, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s climate targets promoting sustainability and unlocking the potential of natural gas as an energy resource, enhancing electricity generation, supporting industrialisation, and creating jobs.

    He said: “Additionally, the public health benefits cannot be overstated, as reduced flaring will limit air pollution and associated health risks for affected communities.

    “International examples underscore the efficacy of similar legislation. Norway’s zero-flaring policy, for instance, has not only protected the environment but also maximised revenue from gas resources. Nigeria’s adoption of this Bill positions the country to emulate such success, ensuring a balance between environmental stewardship and economic development.

    “The implementation of this Bill will be overseen by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which will monitor compliance through regular audits, enforce penalties, and facilitate gas utilisation projects in collaboration with operators and development partners.

    “The Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies will also play a supporting role, particularly in monitoring the environmental impact and ensuring remediation where necessary.

    “The Anti-Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Enforcement) Bill, 2024, is a timely and necessary response to one of Nigeria’s most pressing environmental challenges. Its provisions are both practical and forward-looking, addressing immediate concerns while laying the groundwork for a sustainable future”.

  • Reps seek adequate funding for FCT Rehabilitation Centre

    Reps seek adequate funding for FCT Rehabilitation Centre

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed its committee on Disability Matters to investigate the Abuja Rehabilitation Centre and Social Protection Programmes to ensure adequate funding for the centre. 

    This followed a resolution by the House at plenary on the motion by the Chairman of the House Committee on Disability Matters, Bashiru Dawodu ( APC, Lagos). 

    Dawodu disclosed that on 22 October, 2024, the FCT Administration declared war on street begging with the aim to restore Abuja’s image and enhance security, adding that majority of beggars are individuals with disabilities, with other contributing factors including Almajiri, internally displaced persons, poverty, unemployment, and cultural factors. 

    Read Also: NUJ FCT gets first female chairman

    He said that while begging is an age long-standing social ill in Nigeria, FCT Administrations since 2003 have declared war on beggers and used law enforcement to apprehend, prosecute, or repatriate them to their own states. 

    According to him, this strategy has failed because it provides only a short term solution as the Beggars soon return probably in a changed location, adding that lack of effective long-term solutions like rehabilitation, monthly survival allowance, Almajiris feeding and internally displaced persons resettlement will result in endemic begging. 

    He revealed that the Federal Capital Territory has one semi-functional rehabilitation center in Bwari which is underfunded and provides suboptimal services, saying if the lack of adequate funding and ineffective Social protection programmes persist Street begging will remain intractable. 

  • Reps advocate roadmap, framework for Nigeria’s lithium sector

    Reps advocate roadmap, framework for Nigeria’s lithium sector

    The House of Representatives has called for the development of a comprehensive roadmap to establish the infrastructure necessary for potential lithium mines in Nigeria.

    It also urged the design of a robust regulatory and legal framework to govern the sector effectively.

    According to the House, the framework should aim to implement a lithium value chain policy that ties mining approvals to substantial investments in midstream and downstream segments of the industry.

    The lawmakers further recommended that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development facilitate the establishment of the Nigerian Lithium Production Agency. This proposal aligns with Part II Section 4(P) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, mandating the agency to build a vertically integrated lithium industry.

    It also urged the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to request increased funding of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to enable it to carry out mineral site mapping and high-resolution airborne surveys, including radiometric and electromagnetic surveys, to accurately determine the quantity of lithium deposits in Nigeria.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to Upscale the Lithium Industry and Value Chain as a Catalyst to drive Energy for Sufficient and Economic Growth” sponsored by Hon. Victor Obuzor.

    Read Also: Reps urge FG to conduct thorough investigation into recent boat mishaps

    The House noted that Nigeria’s vast mineral resources, including metallic ore, energy, industry, construction, and gemstones, are deposited across various geological groups, yet the mining sector remains underdeveloped.

    It said mining was a major contributor to the economy in the 1900s, reaching a peak in the 1950s at roughly 4-5%of GDP. However, the industry declined as a result of the discovery of oil and gas. Currently, mining accounts for less than 0.8% of GDP, which is much less than the average of almost 5% for the continent.

    The House also noted that lithium, a reactive metal, is utilized in energy-dense rechargeable batteries, which are crucial for the global clean energy transition. 

    These lightweight compact batteries store more energy per volume, making them ideal for portable devices and grid storage, the House said.

    It was concerned that there is no definitive estimate of the country’s lithium reserves, despite exploration surveys commissioned by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development under the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP).

    The House said significant lithium-bearing minerals have, however, been discovered in Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, Cross River, Ogun, and Plateau States.

    It worried that the country is facing a pivotal moment in its mining history due to rising global demand for renewable energy but is repeating past mistakes in the oil and gas sector by focusing solely on the upstream value chain, losing the opportunities that come with operating in the downstream segments. 

    The price of high-quality lithium carbonate increased from $5,180 in 2010 to $46,000 in 2023 (with a peak of $68,100 in 2022), making previously abandoned deposits economically viable. 

    The IEA predicts global demand could rise 13 times by 2040, the House noted.

    It was alarmed that despite an estimated $700 billion worth of mining potential, lithium exploration in Nigeria remains poorly funded, with only a fraction of projects reaching full potential due to challenges in project design, construction, and production.

    It said according to the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), exploratory samples showed promise, with minerals containing up to 13% lithium oxide content, while the global average mine ore contains about 1-2% lithium oxide content.

    The House was concerned that the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), a sovereign fund aimed at catalyzing private sector investments in Nigeria’s mining sector, has not made any significant investments in lithium mining.

  • Reps discover federal polytechnic with only 142 students, 154 staff

    Reps discover federal polytechnic with only 142 students, 154 staff

    The House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and other Higher Technical Education has discovered that the newly established Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, in Cross River State has only 142 students with about 154 academic and non-academic staff. 

    The polytechnic has also spent about N600 million on personnel and overhead costs with another N38 million spent on local travels by the institution. 

    The revelation came to limelight when the Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Edward N.Okey led management of the institution to the House as part of oversight function. 

    As part of its ongoing oversight of institutions under its purview, the Committee had invited Federal Polytechnics and some other technical institutions from the South-South, including Federal Polytechnic, Orogun; Federal Polytechnic, Ugep; Federal Polytechnic Oil &Gas, Bonny; Federal Polytechnic, Auchi; Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe; Federal Polytechnic Ukana and the National Institute of Construction Technology Management, Uromi to appear before it. 

    Chairman of the Committee, Fouad Laguda (APC, Lagos) and members were also angered that the Polytechnic established in 2021 we’re spending such huge amount of money as expenditure for just 142 students. 

    Making his submission before the Committee, the Rector said the it  spent N2 Billion take-off grant received by the institution to renovate the abandoned and dilapidated Ugep Community Secondary School to serve as a temporary campus, while putting up structures at the Institute of Technology Management (ITM) which he said they have eventually taken over as their permanent site.

    He said: “Our school was established in 2021 and were to start the school at a temporary site in the state Polytechnic called Institute of Technology and Management (ITM). But, when we got there, we could not get the state Polytechnic to start the school.

    “The first challenge we had was to identify a temporary site to start the school. That took us more than a year, because Ugep is not a big town and get a school for us to start was not an easy task.

    “After going around the village, we ended up with dilapidated buildings of a secondary school called Ugep Community Secondary School. The Principal of that school told us that, those buildings were abandoned for 25 years. So, we have to renovate those buildings. It took us more than one year to renovate those buildings for us to start.

    “We started about different 10 projects on the permanent site. Some are at different levels of completion. But getting students and staff in Ugep has not been an easy task, because of some kind of stigma that Ugep carries.

    “Even my Council members, the first set, refused to come to Ugep to hold meetings because they are scared of Ugep because Ugep used to have a tradition of eating people. But, that was hundreds of years ago. 

    “That doesn’t happen again. But, once there is a stigma, its difficult to erase. We have been working to erase that stigma, the people need the school. They need that exposure, but to attract students is not easy.

    “Since we started, it was just last month that we were able to take over the school. The state polytechnic in Ugep started in 2012 by former governor, Liyel Imoke. Since 2012, they have a total number of 63 students, and that tells you the difficult nature of the place.

    “We started with 16 students, but this year, we have admitted 63, bringing the number to 79. So, invariably, we have performed more than the school that started 12 years ago. Now, we have a total of 142 because took over the students and staff of ITM”.

    He also told the committee that “we had a take-off grant of N2 Billion. We use part of it to renovate the school we started with. We used part of it to construct School of Engineering, we also used part of it to construct the Perimeter fence, a Guest House and to buy a Hilux which is the only vehicle I am using now. 

    However, a member of the Committee, described the spendings by the institution as a waste and unsustainable, saying, “It is high time we tell ourselves the truth. If you have 142 students, that’s like an Elementary school. In my village, we have a primary school. The students there are more than 500. 

    “A Polytechnic, a federal Polytechnic for that matter having 142 students and your personnel is N496 million, almost N500 million, for a school that has 142 students. Your overhead is N159 million, for a school that 142 students. Your Capital is N25 million. What is the justification for all these spendings?”.

    Chairman of the Committee, Laguda expressed the disappointment of the Committee over the poor presentation by the institutions.

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    He said: “We called schools from South-South for an oversight and… Not one of the schools met the required requirements or did what was expected. Considering the fact that you had over a week notification.

    “But you’ve been aware over two months ago that your turn was going to come. Because we’ve been doing this oversight function for a while. Out of seven schools, one of the schools is not even here today. Out of the six schools, only three came with half-baked reports. Three others were not prepared for us.

    “And we took our own time, left every other thing that we had to do. To ensure this day, this exercise sees the light of the day. We are going to request that you’re going to come back.

    “See the clerk after now to give you requirements of what is expected of your budget review. We would, in less than a week, will recall you here to come and make this presentation.”