The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration on Thursday alleged that there was monumental fraud in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
Rep. Mohammed Bago (Niger-APC), the Chairman, and other members of the committee spoke during the review of the five per cent NIMASA fund and other internally generated revenue in the 2016 budget.
They threatened to issue a bench warrant against Kayode Adetunji, the school’s Head of Bursary, “for misleading the parliament”.
Bago, who frowned at the N3 billion outstanding revenue from NIMASA, blamed the management of the academy over several inflated project costs.
Rep. Dan Asuquo (PDP-Cross River) queried the Acting Rector over the non-payment of contractors for work completed since 2011.
Asuquo said: “We went through the procurement for some of these projects.
“For example, the contract for the construction of a three-bedroom bungalow was awarded at N34 million.
“A kobo has not been paid but N20 million was recorded to have been paid.
“If you have anything to show, this committee would like to see it.
“Your accountant or director of finance knows what we are talking about and as a committee we would go to any length to recover this.”
The committee also queried the N73 million for the cleaning of the academy, N100 million for purchase of two units of generators and inverter.
Asuquo added: “I think there’s a kind of duplication in the budget.
“After buying generators, why do you need to buy inverters?”
Anthony Ishiodu, the Rector of the Academy, said the committee approved N2 billion for the intervention fund, out of which only N1 billion was released in 2013.
Ishiodu added that N500 million was given in 2014, leaving the balance of N500 million expected from NIMASA, while the institution needed to train 10 lecturers to PHD level overseas to enable the upgrade of the academy.
The Rector added that programmes being run by the academy were not available in the country.
On ongoing projects, he explained that the N2.6 billion earmarked depended on the level of job completion.
The Chairman of the committee explained that five per cent of NIMASA’s revenue was supposed to be remitted into the academy’s account in line with NIMASA Act.
He requested for the list of the lecturers shortlisted for the doctoral degrees overseas.
Trending
- Group urges Bello to submit himself to EFCC for questioning
- Dangote cement export of clinker, cement increased by 87.2%
- What shall we say about Mike Adenuga at 71?, by Toni Kan
- Tinubu mourns victims of tanker fire incident in Rivers
- Removal of structures on System 1, Odo Iya Alaro drainage setback will address major flooding issues on the mainland –Tokunbo Wahab
- Abuja Chinese Supermarket labelled all products in Chinese currency – FCCPC
- Gospel musician, Morenikeji ‘Egbin Orun’ Adeleke, laid to rest + Video
- For Ayogu Eze and Ezinne Margaret Nwomeh, by Festus Adedayo