The House of Representatives Committee on the IDPs and the North-East initiatives is currently investigating allegations that the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE), under the supervision of the office of the Secretary General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, spent N270million on clearing grasses in some IDP camps.
Also being investigated by the house is the purported allocation of N188.69million for Nigerian refugees living in Minawao, Republic of Cameroon.
The Secretary General of the Federation failed to appear at a public hearing on IDPs held by the National Assembly on October 6th, to answer to the allegations.
The Chairman of the Committee, Sani Zorro, berated the SGF for failing to honour their invitation.
“The SGF was slated to have appeared but hasn’t showed up. He didn’t write to explain why his company has refused to turn up to explain the issues relating to the money wastage”, he said.
“The PINE officials said he is at his village but as secretary to the government under whose office the rehabilitation of the North-East was placed, we had expected him to come and throw light on the financial expenses made by his office.”
Further adding, “We also expected him to explain the implementation framework being used to spend the money. We have been inundated by reports of diversion of materials and funds meant for the IDPs, and this scandal had led to the embarrassment for the country.”
“Given the issues of credibility and integrity raised against the agency in charge of the North-East initiative (PINE) which is under the SGF office, we had expected him to respect the invitation”, he said.