Zainab Ahmed, summoned by the House of Representatives Special Adhoc Committee over Subsidy Claims

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has been summoned by the House of Representatives Special Adhoc Committee looking into the Petroleum Subsidy regime to appear before it with all papers pertaining to subsidy applications from 2013 to the present.

Following the Minister’s absence, who substituted the Director of the Ministry of Home Finance, Stephen Okon, for her, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu, issued the summons during the investigative hearing yesterday.

Okon had said to the MPs in his presentation that he had to come because the ministry did not want to give information to the parliament that had not been properly handled.

Therefore, he begged for more time to gather the information the committee would need, pointing out that he was not compelled to offer anything before the committee.

“The ministry holds the House in very high regard, but I was not sent here to make any presentation or submission, but rather to seek for a delay so that we could put all the paperwork required to make our presentation and submission,” he added.

“I sincerely apologize on behalf of the Ministry for not providing me with a letter of authorization to speak on its behalf.”

However, the Committee Chairman stated that the Minister must answer questions regarding the total sum distributed as subsidy payments from 2013 to the present.

He added that it was necessary to give the breakdown of the businesses that have received subsidies from the consolidation revenue account.

While calling the minister’s previous allegation that the nation would need N6.7 trillion to service subsidies as concerning, he gave the minister till August 16 to make herself available with the necessary documentation for subsidy claims.

He expressed regret over the non-appearance of more than seven corporations that were scheduled to appear before the Committee as well as the fact that the businesses did not send communications to that effect.

The Committee also criticized Sahara Energy for inconsistencies found in documents it received, including a letter of authorization Sahara Trade purportedly signed on the company’s behalf.

The MPs promised to inquire about the incorporation of both businesses.

The Sahara Group of Companies, Sahara Trade, and Sahara Energy Limited were also founded, and the members insisted on learning the color of both businesses.