Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has an explanation to give the Senate
Committee on Housing and Urban Development on the curious insertion of
N2bn Regional Housing Scheme in the allocation for the Housing Sector in
the 2017 budget.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola who disowned N2
billion allocation while defending the details of the N64.99 billion
proposed capital vote for the Housing Sector on Tuesday said he knew
nothing about Scheme.
A member of the committee spotted the curious insertion and sought
Fashola’s explanation about how it got into the budget proposal.
To resolve what the allocation for the scheme is all about, Chairman of
the committee, Senator Barnabas Gemade, requested that the Minister of
Finance be invited to clarify the issue.
The following conversation ensued between Fashola and Gemade, Chairman of
the Committe:
Gemade: Finally, what is this provision of N2bn for regional housing
scheme? What is regional housing scheme? Where is it taking place? What is
happening? Have you seen it on Page 18?
Fashola: It is not our project. It came in from, I think, the Budget
(Office). It is a Ministry of Finance initiative; saying that they want to
do what they called ‘family homes’. It is not from us.
Gemade: Yes, but they have put it here; otherwise, we will not be in the
position to accept it.
Fashola: I know as much of it as you do sir.
Gemade: But you are here to defend this budget in totality.
Fashola: That is why I have come. I am explaining to you now, sir, on how
it comes into our budget. That is not what we submitted. We didn’t submit
that proposal.
Gemade: So, will the ministry be kind enough to tell the people who put
this in this budget to come forward and let us know?
Fashola: Please.
Gemade: Let us know what is regional housing programme because government
cannot be operated in secrecy.
Fashola: I think the committee, if you permit me to bring this suggestion…
Gemade: …should invite them?
Fashola: Yes, sir.
Gemade: But you know the people; we don’t know them.
Fashola: No, sir. We just said finance sir.
Gemade: Finance ministry?
Fashola: Yes sir.
Gemade: We will write to the minister.
Fashola: Please do sir.