The House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development has summoned Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, the Minister of Women Affairs, to appear on Tuesday regarding an outstanding debt of N1.5 billion owed to contractors.
Chairperson of the committee, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, announced the suspension of all 2024 contract processes by the Ministry of Women Affairs until the missing funds are fully accounted for.
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This directive follows an investigative hearing on Thursday, where testimonies were taken from the Permanent Secretary and other ministry officials.
The committee is investigating allegations of fund diversion meant for contractor payments, prompted by a petition from unpaid contractors.
Ogbara disclosed that the ministry had started new contracts not included in the 2023 budget, allegedly reallocating funds intended for existing contracts.
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“Funds have not been paid to contractors, and money has been diverted. How will these contractors get paid?”
Ogbara questioned.
She criticized the ministry for initiating new contracts across 15 states while still owing previous contractors.
Additionally, she pointed out an irregular purchase of seven tricycles for a military barracks in Abuja.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) is currently investigating the ministry over an N1.5 billion overhead release for November and December 2023.
During the hearing, Permanent Secretary Ambassador Gabriel Aduda reported that the ministry had a total budget of N13.6 billion for 2023, of which only N3.4 billion had been released, representing 25 percent utilization.
The remaining balance of N10.2 billion remains unreleased.
Aloy Ifeakandu, the Director of Finance, who joined the ministry in September 2023, claimed ignorance of prior transactions.
“The individual contractors have their files, it can be traced. When I took over, there was no balance in the vote,” he stated, adding that he had only followed official directives from his superiors and that all records were available for review.
