Presidency unit spent N.65 million to donate N100K to member
The Nigerian National Merit Awards (NNMA), an agency under the supervision of the presidency, spent N648,000 to deliver a cash gift of N100,000 to a member of its governing board whose son got married, a House committee heard on Wednesday.
At the budget defense on Wednesday before the committee on intergovernmental affairs, principals of the agency were accused of mismanagement of previous budget releases.
Akin Alabi, an APC lawmaker from Oyo who chairs the committee, revealed that between 2014-2019 N189,294,000 was collected by the agency as internally revenues, most of which went into covering hotel charges and luxurious travels.
NNMA was also accused of falsely claiming to have used the sum of N9,183,000 in hotel charges in Abuja, but findings of the committee at the hotel revealed that no such booking was made.
The agency was also accused of spending N516,000 as hotel accommodation for three staff members to attend a birthday party, where members donated N100,000 from public coffers.
Lawmakers directed the agency’s board to go back and respond appropriately to all outstanding allegations of mismanagement before its budget for 2021 can be reviewed.–
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Africa
White South Africans make up 4,996 of total 4,999 refugees Trump admitted into U.S. in six months
Nearly all refugees admitted to the United States by President Donald Trump’s administration so far in 2026 are white South Africans.
Showbiz
Armed robbers attacked my family, after me over money donated for Taiwo’s burial, Kehinde Adegbodu cries out
“They entered my room, stole my clothes and shoes. I’m grateful they did not hurt the children and wives. They stole all their phones and the money,” said the gospel singer.
Politics
Akwa Ibom North-East stakeholders endorse Tinubu’s re-election bid
Some stakeholders in Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district have endorsed the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu.
Sport
Europa/Conference League: Palace pound Fiorentina 3-0, Villa beat Bologna 3-1
Aston Villa won the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, beating Bologna 3-1 as Ollie Watkins scored a brace, while Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with FC Porto.
States
Governor Alia watching as herdsmen freely kill Benue people, destroy farms: Lawmaker
“A disturbing fact is that these perpetrators move freely with their cattle under open grazing, despite the existence of an anti-open-grazing law,” said the Benue lawmaker.
World
Artemis II crew braces for ‘fireball’ return after moon flyby
After becoming the first humans in more than 50 years to fly around the moon, the four Artemis II astronauts face the final major challenge of their mission.
