The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, probity in the utilisation of all security intervention funds in the country.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen made the commitment while inaugurating the House Ad-hoc Committee on the expenditure of all intervention funds on security, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday.
The Green Chamber had constituted the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the disbursement, management and utilisation of all security intervention funds released to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from 2020 to date.
Represented at its inauguration by Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, Speaker Abbas said the constitution of the panel demonstrated the House’s unwavering commitment to accountability in matters of national security.
He urged the committee members to uphold accountability, effectiveness, and fairness that are the core values of the House.
The committee’s chairman, Hon. Zakaria Nyampa (PDP, Adamawa) said over the years, the federal government had made substantial budgetary allocations and released multiple intervention funds aimed at addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges, including insurgency in the North East, banditry and kidnapping in the North West; militancy, piracy, and separatist threats in other regions.
He said while these funds were designed to strengthen operational readiness, improve intelligence capacity, and equip security agencies, persistent insecurity across the country raises fundamental questions about the efficiency, transparency, and impact of such expenditures.
Nyampa explained that the committee will identify the total funds disbursed under various intervention heads and special allocations and examine how they were utilised by the beneficiary agencies.
He said the panel in the course of its assignment will be, “reviewing procurement processes and due process compliance; assessing outcomes and the actual impact of such interventions on the security situation across the country.
“This assignment must be pursued with objectivity, diligence, patriotism, and integrity. It is not a witch-hunt. Rather, it is an effort to ensure that every naira allocated for national security achieves its intended purpose — the protection of the Nigerian people.”
