By Disun Amosun
Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, the Supervisory Minister of State in charge of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matter risks incurring the wrath of President Bola Tinubu and that of the House of Representatives Committee over sighting the Ministry for her failure to adhere to presidential directive to facilitate smooth and timely budget defence for effective budgetary expenditure in the FCT.
Chairman House Committee on FCTA, Rep. Agbedi Frederick sounded the note of warning at a scheduled Budget Defence Exercise with the FCT Area Councils Monday in Abuja, but could not hold, due to the failure of the Minister of State to lead the Heads of Agencies snd Departments of the Ministry to the all important exercise.
The Committee Chairman expressed worries that only three of the 14 Agency/Departmental Heads showed up on their own at the budget defence exercise, and they were not engaged, as the Minister of State was rightly expected to lead the budget defence team.
A motion was then moved and adopted by the committee to give the minister until 4pm today (Tuesday) to lead her full team of FCT Agencies to the rescheduled exercise, failure of which will result in Legislative Action that will cause the appearance of the Minister of State.
Rep. Abedi noted that Dr. Bunkure had an unhealthy penchant for ignoring legislative invitations, thereby throwing spanners into the workings of seamless government functions.
Committee member Rep. Paul Kakejaiye described such attributes exhibited the FCT Minister of State as “Deliberate abrogation of duty an affront to the House of Representatives and the Committee.”
He then asked the President in the face of his directive for expedient budget defence and passage to look into the activities of ministers drawing back the hands of the clock in meeting budget expenditure by applying sanctions where possible.
