By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA—For failing to provide necessary documents to defend his ministry’s 2018 budget, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, was, yesterday, in Abuja turned back by members of House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

Members of the committee,  who expressed displeasure that the budget was filled with new projects when a plethora of old and existing ones had not been completed,  lambasted the minister for dishonouring many invitations extended to him to interface with them on sensitive issues in the ministry.

members of House of the Reps

Chairman of the Committee, Ayi Essien Ekpenyong, conveyed the position of the members during a budget defence exercise by the ministry.

Ekpenyong said that Usani has deliberately ignored many invitations extended to him.

He also remarked that the committee in the course of its oversight function to the Ministry discovered abandoned projects, saying it was the priority of the committee to ensure that ongoing projects were completed before new ones could be introduced.

He also criticized the ministry for not releasing funds to pay contractors handling its various projects.

He said: “The amount allocated to each line is not inviolable as the committee will do the needful to ensure value for money in designated areas. In reviewing the budget, the committee is not unmindful of the Federal Government’s thrust towards ensuring that a greater percentage of the budget is dedicated to capital projects. The committee is interested in the completion of all capital projects and programmes already in existence.”