Buhari's minister rejects House of Reps summons Yet again

Sadiya Umar Farouq, the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, on Monday, June 15, rejected the summons by the Nigerian House of Representatives over COVID-19 funds. 

According to Vanguard, this would be the fourth time Farouq has rejected an invitation of the lower chamber's Ad hoc committee investigating the disbursement of funds allocated for coronavirus palliative released to the ministry.

The minister's refusal to cooperate with the House is in violation of sections 4, 81, and 88 of the 1999 Constitution which gives the lower chamber power over the public purse and investigative powers over the president as far as public funds are concerned.

Farouq rejecting the Reps' invitation has left Rep. Wole Oke, the chairman of the panel, and other members of the Ad hoc committee irritated.

The House of Reps under the Constitution has the Legislative Powers Act, to summon and even effect the arrest of anyone under the federation. 

Recall that the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management was summoned by the House committee on public accounts on Tuesday, June 9, to explain the disbursement of funds released by the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force.

The humanitarian affairs minister who was asked to appear before the committee on Thursday, June 18, will also answer questions on the other schemes such as N-power and Social Investment Programme (SIP).