NEMA to account to House of Reps on alleged N17b allocation

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said it will account to the House of Representatives on the alleged N17billion allocated to it.

The agency however said no cash was diverted from its account. It said it has faith that House members would be fair whenever NEMA is invited by the House

The agency made the clarification in a statement by its Head of Media and Public Relations Sani Datti.

The statement said: “The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has taken note of the resolution of the House of Representatives to look into the alleged N17 billion either budgeted or statutorily allocated to it in the last one year.

“The resolution followed a motion by a member of the House, Honourable Benjamin Wayo (APC, Benue).

“As a law-abiding agency and in deference to the mandate of the House of Representatives as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, NEMA management will respond to any invitation by the House and oblige it any information requested.

“This administration is committed to transparency, probity and accountability. It is therefore ready to account for the allocations made to NEMA in the last 10 months since it came on board.

NEMA however wishes to clarify that it is ready to account for all funds appropriated or released to it in line with its mandate.

“With all sense of responsibility, the nation is assured that no allocation was siphoned under any guise.”

But NEMA attributed the House resolution to alleged communication gap between it and the House.

It added: “The agency believes that there is a communication gap between it and the House. But by the time NEMA management responds to the request of the House, the facts and figures will be presented to ensure that all parties are on the same page. The attendant understanding between the two parties will also lead to enhanced collaboration.

“NEMA however has faith that Honourable members will be fair whenever it is invited by the House bearing in mind that we are all serving to make this nation greater.

“We respect the constitutional rights of the House to hold any agency accountable. We also want to state in clear terms that NEMA has nothing to hide.”