Skip to main content

Senate Committee rejects Federal Government’s proposal to obtain $200m loan

Senate Committee rejects Federal Government’s proposal to obtain $200m loan

The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Loans has rejected the Federal Government’s proposal to obtain $200m loans for the purchase of treated mosquito nets.

 The proposal which was presented before the senate by the Federal Ministry of Health was thrashed and described as unacceptable on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry had stated it requests under the Malaria Programme that the fund is needed for the purchase of mosquito nets for 13 vulnerable states.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mahmuda Mamman, who stood to justify the proposal before the panel claimed that the loan if approved by the National Assembly and accessed, will be used to medically fight malaria in the 13 orphan states which cover 208 local government Councils and 3, 536 primary health care centres.

Responding to his submission, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe and other senators present at the plenary slammed the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib.

The lawmakers said it’s a wonder that ₦450m was budgeted for Malaria treatment in the proposed 2022 budget and yet, plans are being made to borrow $200m for the same purpose.

Oloriegbe cautioned the ministry, saying that it should be able to put its feet down when dealing with donor agencies or creditors as regards loans to be taken and what it should be expended on.

He said: “Don’t we have local manufacturers of mosquitoes nets and malaria drugs in Nigeria to patronise with the loan even if approved.

“This is a clear case of money and jobs for the boys by creditors luring you for loans and railroading you on what it should be spent on.

“Washington or whatever creditor offering the loan, should stop giving us money with one hand and taking it back with another hand through railroaded spending,“  he said.

Other members of the committee like Senators Adelere Oriolowo ( APC Osun West), Abba Moro ( PDP Benue South) and others, also blamed the Ministry for coming up with such an idea.

The ₦450m already budgeted for fighting the scourge in the alleged vulnerable areas, according to them, was enough.

Again, the senators furiously demanded the permanent Secretary to explain how the idea was arrived at and how it will be implemented.

Responding to their request, the Permanent Secretary noted that a subsidiary arrangement had been made with all the states involved through the required signing of the agreement.

In his further clarification, the Executive Director, National Primary Heal Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib noted that the $200m was for importation and local production of mosquito nets.

The panel however demanded the total needs of the agency to ascertain if there was a need for borrowing.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Court orders Okowa government to account for over N200bn education funds, allocations

Court orders Okowa government to account for over N200bn education funds, allocations The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment, has “ordered the disclosure of the spending details of over N200bn public funds collected by the government of former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa from the Universal Basic Education Commission [UBEC] fund and allocations from the Federation Accounts.” The court ordered the Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to “disclose details of budgetary allocations and actual spending by the Okowa government between 2015 and 2019, including specific projects carried out to improve primary education in Delta State, and the locations of such projects.” The judgment was delivered by Honourable Justice Daniel Osiagor, following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/803/2019, brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). In his judgment, Justice Osiagor held that, “SERAP has cognizable legal right to inquire and
Post a Comment
Read more

Olu Of Warri Defends Tradition, Speaks on Christianity

Olu Of Warri Defends Tradition, Speaks on Christianity  The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ògíamẹ̀ Atúwàtse III, has dispelled the insinuation that there is a conflict between the traditional thrones and Christendom. The monarch, who stated this when he received the Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, in his Palace in Warri Kingdom, Delta State, said that the two institutions were not necessarily antithetical. He also debunked the assumption that traditional institutions were synonymous with fetishism and the worship of creations made by human beings and reasoning. He, however, noted that the two institutions can play complementary role that will contribute to the growth and development of the country. The Olu, who said he was elated by the Soun’s visit, said the new Ogbomoso monarch’s choice of Warri kingdom as his first place of visit was divinely directed, just as his choice for the throne was divinely ordained. He said that they owe i
Post a Comment
Read more

Many Benefited as Tantita Save Niger Delta From Enviromental Ruins

Many Benefited as Tantita Save Niger Delta From Enviromental Ruins  It is on record over the past twenty years in the Niger Delta region, South-South Nigeria where incessant fire disaster and untimely death was on the increase in weekly basis as result of the activities of illegal oil bunkering, especially the process of local refining popularly known as Kpo-Fire. The menace also renders our young married ladies widows in the ljaw riverine communities because most of their life partners venture into the Kpo-Fire business due to its lucrative nature in making quick money. To proof your doubt, take a tour to any of the ljaw riverine communities across Burutu, Warri South-West, Bomadi, Patani in Delta State, and Southern ljaw, Ekeremor, Nembe and Brass LGAs in Bayelsa State, you will discovered that most of our youths are facially disfigured in parts of their body as result of severe fire accident incurred during cooking and burning (refining) of crude oil to kerosene, fuel and desiel for
Post a Comment
Read more