Reps panel summons finance minister, accountant-general over failed mass transit schemes

Reps panel summons finance minister, accountant-general over failed mass transit schemes

Minister of Finance, Wale Edu, and Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, are to appear before the House of Representatives committee investigating failed mass transit schemes in the country.

The committee also summoned Oluwatoyin Madein, accountant-general of the federation, and Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of civil service of the federation.

Chairman of the committee, Afam Ogene issued the summon on Wednesday during a public hearing at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The committee said many mass transportation schemes initiated by the Federal Government had failed as a result of a lack of proper oversight by the supervisory authorities.

Ogene said the invited government officials were required to furnish the committee with information about the disbursement of funds for the various mass transit schemes which are not in operation.

The lawmaker said the committee was determined to ensure that all previous funds that “have gone out to different private operators of mass transit schemes are recovered and properly accounted for”.

He asked the clerk of the committee to invite the managing director of the Infrastructure Bank to also appear before the lawmakers.

“Let me warn that this invitation is not frivolous, this is an invitation extended to them by the house of representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

“If for any reason, any of them fail to honour this invitation, we shall invoke the full power of this committee as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

On Tuesday, the committee met with Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and promised to support efforts to revamp and reorganise the Abuja transportation system.