LAGOS ASSEMBLY BEGINS PROBE OF AMBODE OVER N45 BILLION CONTRACT FOR BUSES
The lawmaker stated that the executive proposed to spend N17 billion to purchase the buses in the 2017 budget, but that this was not approved by the Assembly, adding, “in the 2018 and 2019 budgets, the State Government proposed N24 billion and N7 billion respectively, but these were not approved. The State Government still went ahead to import 820 buses at N7 billion, and out of that, 520 are still awaiting clearance at the ports,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that Yishawu at the Tuesday’s plenary, said the House was worried that 520 buses were still awaiting clearance from the bonded warehouse and the Port, waiting to be cleared and that they were purchased with taxpayers’ money without approval.
The lawmaker urged the House of Assembly to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate all the issues relating to the purchase of the buses, calling on need to investigate the cost of the purchase of the buses and other issues surrounding it to prevent a reoccurrence.
“The State Government requested waivers for the importation of the buses and it was not granted. The value of the buses was overrated. Some of the buses are still in the ports and they are attracting demurrage. N45 billion would be spent on the total purchase of the buses and we need to prevent such an occurrence in the future,” he added.
Penpushing also reports that, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, in his submission said the House needed to prevent waste because the expenditure had been done, adding, “the vehicles are in the ports and they have been there for almost a year.
“The State will continue to suffer if we allow the buses to stay in the ports. We should be the regulators of transporters, the state should not operate the buses.How much are we giving the buses out should be addressed. We should get the buses to the roads and save the state from further wastes.”
Penpushing reports that the House of Assembly subsequently set up a committee headed by Hon Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju Lekki 1) to look into the matter and report to the House in due course,while other members of the committee include: Yishawu, Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1), Olanrewaju Afinni (Lagos Island 2), Rasheed Makinde (Ifako Ijaiye 2), Yinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), Mojisola Miranda (Apapa 1).
The Speaker directed the committee to invite the Accountant General of the State, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, and others that were involved in the purchase to state what they knew about it.
