FROM AHMED TUKUR LAFIA – For spending big to the tune of N700,000 on fueling a generating set during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the Nasarawa State Ministry of Lands and Survey now has some clarifications to offer.
Findings revealed that the amount was spent within four months, between May and August 2020 during the total lockdown meant to check the virus spread in the North Central state and country
It was gathered the huge expenditure was incurred before the Federal and some state governments relaxed the lockdown for certain categories of staff to resume work between 9am and 12noon daily.
The amount involved in the transaction is now giving the Ministry sleepless nights as officials are currently battling to defend their extra-budgetary
spending before the Nasarawa State House Assembly that summoned the Ministry for its oversight functions on year 2020 budget performance.
Documents available to the Lawmakers indicated that the
Ministry made extra budgetary spending of N35 million on consultancy for survey service despite a downward review of initial amount in the revised budget from N60 million to N15 million.
Also, the Ministry expended N10 million on boundary delineation and perimeter survey contrary to the budget being reviewed downward from N25 million to N6 million by the state government with the aim of freeing more revenue to assist in cushioning the pandemic’s adverse effect.
The House therefore queried the Ministry, demanding that some of its officials appear before the lawmakers to explain the unapproved spendings.
Chairman of the House Committee on Lands and Survey, Hon David Maiyaki, leading other members, frowned at presentations made by the ministry.
However, the State Lands Commissioner, Professor Salihu Alizaga, who confirmed spending N700,000 on fueling the generator, said most of the expenses were during on emergency situations to save the state.
Prof Alizaga said the N50 million for consultancy services was paid to Daniyan and Associates in respect of Peninsula Land in Karu.
He explained that Daniyan was the consultant to the property before
the creation of the State and that several litigations have been won
against the government forcing the State government to find the best way out of a bad situation.
“They requested for N150 million but we have to appeal for downward review and they accepted N50 million”.
On fueling the generator, the Commissioner said the figure went up from May 2020 after the support from Nasarawa Geographical Information System (NSGIS) stop coming due to the disengagement of the project consultant.
He however claimed that the Ministry officials have already presented documents before the Assembly to back up the extra budgetary spending which they accepted.
