mast media

MDAs violate monetisation policy

Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government have been violating the monetisation policy of the country, investigation has shown.

The National Assembly is not also spared from this phenomenon, which has continued to defeat the policy of government aimed at cutting down the cost of governance and increasing productivity in the public service.

Investigation showed that several ministries and agencies of government have continued to purchase exotic and utility vehicles under the guise that the vehicles are meant for project supervision.

These vehicles are subsequently attached to high level officials who use them for purposes other than which they were purchased for.

A look at the 2013 budget showed that many agencies and ministries make little provision for the purchase of vehicles. However, they have bigger votes for the maintenance of vehicles and transport equipment.

Investigation showed that some of these budgetary provisions had been subjected to abuse. The provisions occur yearly even as the provisions for maintenance of vehicles were diverted for the purchase of exotic vehicles.

In the 2013 budget, the State House had a provision of N430.5m for the maintenance of motor vehicles and transport equipment while the Office of the President had a provision of N103.2m for the same purpose.

The Border Communities Development Agency, an agency under the Presidency, had a provision of N196m for the purchase of motor vehicles.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had a provision of N24.85m for the maintenance of motor vehicles and transport equipment; N31.98m for fueling motor vehicles and another N27m for the purchase of new vehicles.