Abuja, Dec. 2, 2022 – Hajia Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, says her ministry is still waiting for a formal response from the Ministry of Finance on the N206 billion meant for security weapons found in her ministry’s budget.
She said had written to seek clarification on the issue and was waiting for response from the ministry of finance, budget and national planning.
Farouq, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Special Duties on Thursday, said she did not allege that the finance minister padded the budget, but she had a lot to explain on why the purchase of security weapons was included in the budget of the humanitarian ministry.
“I want to state that the last time we were here and this issue was raised, we never mentioned budget padding, but we need to clarify with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the issue of the N206 billion that was raised.
“We have written to them, but we are still waiting for a formal response from the ministry.
“I will ask that we wait until we get a formal response from the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the said amount under contention.
“I wish they were here today so that we can listen to them.
“On the N206 billion, when we saw it, we didn’t understand it. The money came under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, but was budgeted for the purchase of security equipment.
“An explanation needs to be made and that was why I said that I won’t be able to say anything on the issue until the minister is able to provide us with explanations.
“We need clarity and that is why we asked the minister to provide an explanation to us.
“The minister of finance and I have not met, but the accounting officers have both met. We were invited by the House Committee on Appropriation, but I couldn’t attend because I was indisposed. She provided some explanations and gave some documents, but it’s not my job to speak to it.
“I wanted her to be here for her to give answers to the monies that are yet to be accounted for,” she said. (GBN)
