House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee sets one-week ultimatum for private airline operators to justify use of funds or return them to the Federal Government.
In a move towards transparency and accountability, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has demanded that private airline operators in Nigeria provide an account of the N4bn allocated by the Federal Government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Failing to justify the use of these funds will result in a mandatory refund to the Federal Government treasury.
Investigative Hearing Unveils Lack of Transparency
Under the chairmanship of Bamidele Salam, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Osun State, the committee has initiated an investigative hearing into the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds by various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government. Over 56 MDAs are currently under scrutiny for their handling of these crucial funds.
During the hearing, it was revealed that many private airlines and industry stakeholders, including Aero Contractors and Azman, along with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, were unable to convincingly demonstrate how the funds designated for them were utilized to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airlines Grilled Over Fund Allocation
Representatives from Azman Airlines and Aero Contractor admitted to receiving significant sums of money from the government, purportedly for operational expenses related to COVID-19 management. However, there was a lack of clarity regarding the specific allocation and expenditure of these funds.
Azman Airlines’ Marketing Manager, Odum Uju, disclosed receiving N367.90m for various operational expenses, while the Station Manager of Aero Contractor, Abdulmalik Musa, stated the company received N217.35m to address the coronavirus threat. Both companies claimed the funds were utilized for essential operational costs such as aircraft maintenance, fuelling, and insurance premiums.
Questioning Transparency and Accountability
The committee members, including former pilot Ojuawo Adeniyi from Ekiti State, expressed skepticism regarding the explanations provided by the airline operators. They argued that the services claimed to have been funded were typically part of regular airline operations, casting doubt on their relevance to COVID-19 relief efforts.
Call for Refund Gains Momentum
In response to the lack of satisfactory explanations, a motion was initiated by Akiba Bassey, representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency in Cross River State. The motion called for the refund of the N4bn COVID-19 funds to the Federation Account should the airlines fail to provide adequate documentation of their expenditure. This motion received unanimous support from committee members.
Conclusion
The demand for transparency and accountability in the management of COVID-19 intervention funds is essential for ensuring that resources are effectively utilized to combat the pandemic. The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee’s insistence on accountability sets a precedent for responsible governance and financial stewardship, ensuring that taxpayer funds are used judiciously for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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BY: Doris Chinwe Omemgbeoji