Amaechi In Trouble Over NPA’s N166.6bn Unremitted Funds

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has been summoned by the Public Account committee of the House of Representatives over unremitted funds of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Naija News reports that Amaechi was invited by the Green chamber following the report submitted to committee by the Auditor-General for the federation, Adolphus Aghughu.

In his report submitted to the lawmakers, Aghughu had queried the account of the NPA, which is under the supervision of Amaechi.

During sitting on Thursday, the chairman of the committee, Wole Oke, said Amaechi was scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday, but requested for an extension.

Oke noted that the Minister is to appear before the Committee on 8th of July.

He added that Amaechi and the NPA management team are to explain the channels and water ways maintenance N65.130 billion and Port and Quays Expenses of N38.412 billion.

“The Auditor-General said that they are expected to answer questions from the lawmakers, giving the breakdown of maintenance, budgetary provisions and evidence of work done on the channels and waterways as examination of the accounts revealed that the channels and waterways maintenance rose from N44.427 billion in 2015 to N64.130 billion in 2016, an increase of over N20 billion,” he said.

Recall that NPA boss, Hadiza Bala Usman, was suspended for allegedly failing to remit operating surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Account.