The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has appealed for more funding to help it carry out its mandate of checking financial crimes in the country.
Magu made this appeal when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to defend the commission’s 2016 budget.
“I very much believe that even if you’re going to give us everything we have asked for, it will not be adequate but considering the situation we are, there is nothing we can do,” he stated.
The EFCC boss was also questioned on the agency’s decision to investigate different sectors of the economy.
As work continues on the 2016 budget that is before the National Assembly, committees have been meeting with the representatives of the different arms of the executive to put finishing touches to the over 6 trillion naira budget.
The Minister of Health also brought this same appeal for more funding when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health.
Prof. Isaac Adewole raised the issue of shortfall in the ministry’s budget.
“When we looked at the budget including submissions from the teaching hospitals, medical centres and agencies, it came down to 347 billion and we got only 335.7 which is about 10%.”
He also made mention of the Zika virus that is becoming a global concern, “I want to say that Zika has been with us since 1954. About 25% of Nigerians are positive to Zika virus but what has happened is that it has done nothing to us,” he said, while explaining the need for more action.
The Committee on Local Content also scrutinized the budget of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board while the Committee on Science and Technology is also holding its meeting with agencies under its committee.
A lot of the committees are still expected to appear before the 2016 budget would be presented to the House in plenary.