Lawmakers probe diversion of N1.5b compensation fund

In from Ripples Nigeria

The lower legislative chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday set in motion an investigation into the diversion of N1.5b compensation fund meant for the displaced indigenes of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ripples has learnt.

This followed protest by the original occupants of Centenary village when House Committee on FCT paid an oversight visit to some projects in the FCT.

The Herman Hembe-led Committee said diversion of funds meant for compensation and resettlement of the affected indigenous people should not be an issue to be handled with levity.

Contractors handling projects for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) had complained to the Committee that low level of work was as a result of resistance and protest by the indigenes over compensation, in addition to poor funding by the government.

The contractors however told the Committee that the protests to the contractors by the affected people were not properly directed as they (contractors) have no issues with compensation.

Bitrus Jiasalo, member representing Abuja Municpal Council/Bwari Federal Constituency of FCT, who expressed disappointment with the compensation matter, regretted that officials of FCDA were only paying lip service to the issue.

“It is disheartening that the engineers of FCDA are all talking of settlement of villagers whereas nothing was paid to them and we cannot even see any plan for integration by the FCT administration as claimed.

“I know that N1.5b was released by the Federal Government for compensation of villagers in Centenary Village by the same FCDA yet no money was paid to the indigenes.

“We are going to investigate this matter,” Jisalo said.

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