In 2020, N500m; 2021, N225m; 2022, N500m; And 2023, N150m. Where Is The Office Situated — Lawmaker

According to Vanguard, the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development and the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, were locked in a heated exchange over the alleged diversion of N1.5 billion meant for contractor payments by ministry officials.

The confrontation occurred during an investigative hearing when the committee asked the minister to account for the expenditure of funds allocated for contractor payments by the accountant-general’s office. In her defense, Kennedy stated that while 30 percent of the total sum was paid to her ministry, she could not provide a detailed account of its expenditure, citing advice from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to “mind her business.”

This response prompted the committee members to question the minister’s awareness and oversight of funds disbursed to her ministry. Kennedy explained that the full amount had not been released to her ministry, which hindered their ability to pay outstanding liabilities. “If not that the money of this year has been delayed, I’m sure we wouldn’t be here today. Because we could have paid out some of these liabilities. But since this year, no project money has been released to any ministry. And that was a constraint,” she stated.

Committee member Marie Nenemete Ebikake pressed the minister further on the African First Lady Peace Mission project, which involved significant funds. Ebikake asked for detailed information on the utilization of funds allocated to the project, including the project’s location and the individuals involved. She highlighted past allocations: “In 2020, N500 million; 2021, N225 million; 2022, N500 million; and 2023, N150 million. Where is the office situated and the organogram?…..See_More