Reps summon Finance Minister Oyedele, AGF over N75bn UBEC debt

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, over N75bn reportedly borrowed from the Universal Basic Education Commission, PUNCH reports. The Public Accounts Committee directed them to appear on Thursday, October 22, with a definite repayment schedule.

“The main issue we are looking at is N75bn. We need the Accountant-General to appear in person, and we want the Honourable Minister to appear in person too so that we can get a timeline,” said committee Deputy Chairman Jeremiah Umaru at Friday’s hearing in Abuja.

A Deputy Director in the Accountant-General’s office, Ezeoke Christopher, acknowledged the borrowings as internal arrangements to meet funding shortfalls. His office said efforts had been made to refund as much as N90bn, while over N70bn remained outstanding. The committee said the explanations were unsatisfactory.