The House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness will also review other activities of NEMA and evaluate conformity with its mandates from inception to date.
The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to probe the usage of funds disbursed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The Committee is also to examine if funds allotted to the agency are used to execute projects under its jurisdiction, and are in tandem with its mandates.
The House reached this resolution following the unanimous adoption of a motion on the“Need to Strengthen the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to Enhance Speedy Response to Emergencies and Disaster Occurrences in Nigeria, sponsored moved by Rep. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) at Thursday’s plenary.
In his lead debate, Agbese observed that there has been various complaints against NEMA by victims of disasters relating to delayed and ineffective interventions.
He noted that aside from other sources of funds accruing to the National Emergency Management Agency, the Agency receives 20% of funds for Ecological Funds Accounts, amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira from its inception to date.
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“NEMA has consigned its function mainly to providing relief materials and does not respond promptly to distress and disaster emergencies.
“If NEMA’s current conduct is left unchecked, Nigerians will lose confidence which would lead to its eventual transformation into a bureaucratic institution and a cash cow for unscrupulous individuals
“NEMA has to live up to the expectations of its Establishment Act particularly in the area of prompt and proactive response to disaster emergencies and distress calls,” he said.
In adopting the motion, the House also directed its committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to review other agency activities and evaluate conformity with its mandates from inception to date.
The committee is also to proffer recommendations on improving the Agency and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
