Minister of Petroleum Resources to face Reps probe for spending N3.120bn on air charter services

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives,
Thursday, mandated the Public Accounts
Committee, PAC to probe an alleged reckless
spending of N3.120billion in two years by the
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Deziani
Allison-Madueke for air charter services.
The House in session also directed the
committee to conclude the investigative hearing
within two weeks and report back.
This move was initiated by Rep Adejare Samuel,
APC, Agege Federal Constituency, Lagos in a
motion entitled:’Urgent Need to Investigate the
Waste of Resources on the Arbitrary Charter and
Maintenance of a Challenger 850 Aircraft for
Non-Official Use’.
Adejare had in his submission argued that the
minister allegedly frittered away over N10bn in
the maintenance of the Challenger 850 Aircraft
and its crew in the last 2 years.
He noted that” in these days of scarce National
Resources where public finance is shrinking in
the face of ever increasing national needs such
as roads, health, education and power, amongst
others an official of government could waste
public funds on such luxury as chartering a
Challenger 850 Aircraft for extra official use.
Stressing further Adejare said that “in recent
times, most States of the Federation have been
facing acute shortage of allocations due to the
dwindling National Revenue which has reduced
the quality of governance and deprived the
people of dividends of democracy”.
He said to the House that his submission on the
issue “is based on reliable evidence, the Hon.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani
Alison-Madueke has been committing the sum of
500,000 Euros (N130 Million Naira) monthly to
maintain the Aircraft, thus in two (2) years, the
Minister had committed at least N3.120 billion in
maintaining the Private Jet which is used solely
for her personal needs and those of her
immediate family, which is an appalling act”.
He also explained that “there are strong
indications that the above expenditure is only a
tip of the iceberg as several other billions of
Naira have been allegedly wasted on flying the
jet all over the world obviously for the leisure of
the Hon. Minister and her immediate family on
trips that were of no benefit to the country.
” This colossal waste is currently estimated at
N10 billion which include the payment of
allowances to the crew for the trips, hanger
parking and rent based on the lease agreement.
“If government could be bankrolling this waste in
the face of ever dwindling public resources which
amounts to a misplacement of priority,
impudence and breach of public trust, an action
that offends the Fiscal Responsibility Act and all
other Laws on fiscal discipline in Nigeria.
He explained that an investigation into the
matter revealed that the Hon. Minister is
financing the lease of the Aircraft with public
funds.
At this stage, Rep Friday Itulah, PDP, Edo rose to
oppose the motion, but the presiding officer,
Aminu Tambuwal quickly intervened asking Itulah
to stay action until he calls for a debate to
oppose the motion.
He however explained to the House that the
House rule does not create room for motions of
this nature to be debated, adding that “we will
put it to a voice vote and refer it to the relevant
committee for further legislative action”.
“And I was made to understand that PAC had
been on this issue before now”.
The speaker after explaining did put it to a voice
vote and APC members once again overwhelmed
PDP lawmakers as the ‘ays swallowed the
‘nays’.