Members of the House of Representatives expressed shock on Tuesday that the Presidential Committee on North- East
Initiative budgeted N60m to award contracts to cut grasses in communities ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents this year.
The development is coming while the controversy generated by a similar contract worth over N200 m awarded by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr . Babachir David – Lawal, has yet to abate.
The N60m in the 2017 budget of PCNI is to cover contracts to cut “shrubs, grasses and trees ” along the Maiduguri – Mama Road alone .
Lawmakers picked out the figure when the PCNI appeared before the House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons to defend its N 45bn on humanitarian assistance , rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced villagers.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr . Sani Zoro , and other members were alarmed over the allocation. “You can ’t travel this same way (awarding contracts on grasses ) again; it is not acceptable .
“Why can ’ t you assign this duty to the military to do it for you ? “ They can use their personnel to clear the grasses and you can drop this idea of awarding contracts with N 60m.”
Members were also worried that most provisions in the N 45bn budget were for “ security ”and procurement of equipment for military services as against providing shelter , food, hospitals and schools for displaced persons.
“Your duty, from what we understand , is to provide succour for the displaced persons. These people are traumatised and they need urgent basic amenities as they return home . Rehabilitation has to do with their survival as human beings first,” Zoro added.
Members said several provisions appeared questionable. Zoro noted , “ Maybe , you must first give us the mandate of the PCNI . You have N184 m for screening programme for humanitarian activities . What does that mean?
“There is N 150 m on advocacy and early warning system and N 165 m for conflict management .
“You are going to deliver security equipment for N 200 m . What type of security equipment? Then another N2 .5 bn for security outfits .
“Are you telling us that part of your role is to fund the operations of the military in the North – East ? The military have their own budget already . “Why are you not talking about food, shelter, medical care and schools for these IDPs ?”
