Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has on Monday, rejected the summons by the House of Representatives, over Covid-19 funds allocated to her Office, Page 36 learnt.
According to Vanguard (not Page 36), this would be the 4th time that Farouq has refused to honour an invitation of the Lower Chamber’s Ad-hoc Committee investigating the disbursement of funds allocated for coronavirus palliatives, released to her Ministry.
The Minister’s refusal to cooperate with the House, is in violation of Sections 4, 81, and 88 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, 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 House of Reps. invitation, has left Honourable Wole Oke, the Chairman of the Panel, and other members of the Ad-hoc Committee, irritated.
The House of Representatives under the Constitution, has the Legislative power to summon, and even effect the arrest of anyone under the Federation.
Recall, that the Minister was summoned by the House Committee on Public Accounts, to explain the disbursement of funds released by the Covid-19 Presidential Task Force, PTF.