Reps To Probe Abuse Of Peacekeeping Operations, Others

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate abuse of peace keeping operations in Nigeria and mismanagement of its proceeds and funds.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa from Adamawa at plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Nyampa said  peace keeping operations among nations/countries in the world play a vital role in stabilising fragile nations like Nigeria in view of insurgency, engaging communities, protecting civilians and promoting peace processes to prevent vulnerable regions from becoming terrorist safe havens.

He noted that “Peace keeping as defined by the United Nations, “is a way to help countries torn by conflict with a view to creating conditions for sustainable peace. Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favor lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare/conflict.

“The broader mission of United Nations includes but not Iimited to peace enforcement, peacemaking, peacekeeping, peace building and post conflict reconstruction.

“The proceeds of the peacekeeping operation have never featured as a source of revenue in the national budget nor captured in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) presented to the National Assembly by the previous governments, hence, the need to block revenue leakages to this effect.”

The lawmaker expressed concern that the mismanagement of the proceeds of peace keeping operation in Nigeria has reached a point where all the parties involved need to account for the spending.

He was worried that if this practice of non-inclusion of proceeds of peacekeeping operations in the budgets and Medium Term Expenditures Framework and poor accountability of funds is not stopped , nation building will be meaningless.