How NDLEA spent N1.5bn on recruitment of 5,000 personnel, by Senate

Senate Committee on Public Accounts has queried the National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency over spending of N1.5 billion for the recruitment of 5,000 personnel in 2021.

The amount was collected through Service Wide Votes, SWV by the NDLEA.

Committee of the committee, chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), while speaking at an investigative hearing on the expenditure of Service Wide Votes, wondered how could the agency spent the bogus amount on the recruitment of 5000 personnel.

Also, the vice chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia (APC Jigawa), specifically wondered how could the agency spent such amount on recruitment of 5,000 personnel.

Director of Finance and Accounts, Abdullahi Shitu, who represented the chairman of the NDLEA, Gen. Mohammed Marwa claimed that part of the money was used to renovate building at the training camp of the agency.

But the lawmakers rejected the explanation, saying the Authority to Incur Expenditure, AIE submitted by the agency showed it was for recruitment not for the building in the train camp.

The committee, therefore, ordered the NDLEA to bring the nominal roll of the 5000 personnel of the agency for betting by Thursday.