Reps probe Jonathan’s N9.2b clean stove contract

Query ministry over N100m generating set purchase

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to probe the N9.2 billion contract on clean stove for rural women, awarded when former President Goodluck Jonathan was at the helm. The panel would determine whether the contract was fully executed.

Adopting a motion initiated by Mr. James Abiodun Faleke, the House mandated its Committees on Anti-Corruption and Environment and Habitat to investigate the details of the contract, the number of units supplied, their mode of distribution and names of beneficiaries on a state-by-state basis.

At the plenary session presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the lawmakers directed the committees to confirm the status of the balance of N3.7 billion, which was outstanding from the initial payment to the federal ministry of environment and report back to the House within six weeks.

Faleke (Ikeja: Lagos: APC) claimed that he was aware that Messrs.’ Integra Energy Renewable Services Ltd was awarded the contract for the supply of the 20 million units and was paid the sum of N1.3 billion out of the N5 billion released by the federal ministry of environment as mobilisation fee, allegedly without due process.

He however, expressed concern that less than 750,000 units were reportedly assembled and delivered at the velodrome of the National Stadium, Abuja and commissioned by former vice president Namadi Sambo without any beneficiary physically present or later being given the stove.

In another of its oversight function, it was a rowdy session as members of the House Committee on Information and National Orientation queried the ministry officials for allegedly purchasing seven generators when approval was given for only two at the cost of N100 million.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Permanent secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba explained that the ministry purchased two 250KVA generators for the ministry and five smaller ones for five of its information centres in some states.

However, Chairman of the Committee, Olusegun Odebunmi accused the ministry of committing illegality, because the ministry had requested for an approval to purchase only two generators and does not have the powers for virement. “Purchasing the smaller generators is a different sub-head for you to move from one sub head to another, you ought to have come to the National Assembly for approval,” he said.