Governors set up committee to find 'disappearing' money

dimeji akinloye

April 28, 2017 6:19 AM

The resolution was made at the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, April 27.

Nigeria's Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo

The Governors of the 36 states of the Federation have formed a committee to audit the countrys Ecological Fund.

The move, according to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, was because the balance appeared to be diminishing.

He said this is baffling because states have not collected any money from the fund since the beginning the present administration.

This was part of the resolutions made at the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, April 27.

The meeting was led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

"No state has collected money from the ecological funds in the last one or two years and we notice that the balance is going down. Somebody must be touching it," Lalong said.

Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, said the current balance in the Ecological Fund is N33.6 billion.

He said members of the audit committee include governors of Oyo, Borno, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna and Anambra states.

The Ministers of Finance and Environment are also part of the committee.

ALSO READ: State Governors want Ecological Funds shared, they should be told off

The mandate of the Funds, according to a citation on its website, says it is meant to do the following:

"Reduce ecological problems nationwide to the barest minimum; facilitate quality and effective implementation of projects; judicious and equitable utilization of the Fund."

It is also meant for the "effective management of Ecological Fund Projects."

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, revealed at the meeting that the Federal Government will clamp down on cattle rustlers and militants like never before.

He said this while giving a report of the security situation in the country to the council.

dimeji akinloye