Delta 2019 Budget Defence: Lawmakers Frown at Iyasere, Bello Over Gross Irregularities

The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Commerce and Industry has expressed concern over the irregularities in the documentation of the 2018 budget performance of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The Hon Festus Okoh led committee expressed the concern when the Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mrs Mary Awhotu-Iyasere appeared before it to defend the ministry’s 2019 budget estimate.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon Festus Okoh had informed the officials of the importance of the budget defense exercise and expressed worry over the last year experience with the ministry.

Hon Okoh observed that the figures presented before the committee as regards the personnel expenditures of the ministry of commerce and Industry was indicting the state government as state government was not owing staff salaries.

Honorables Daniel Mayuku, Oboro Preyor and others in their reactions stressed the need for the Commissioner and her team to go back to effect the necessary corrections in the documents.

The Commissioner, Mrs Mary Awhotu-Iyasere had commended the committee for the opportunity provided the Ministry to defend the 2019 budget proposal but could not proceed as a result of the observed irregularities.

The Ministry agreed with the committee that the figures it presented as the personnel expenditure was wrong and apologized, promising to effect the corrections.

(L-R) Mrs Shimite Bello and Mrs Mary Awhotu-Iyasere

The Executive Secretary, Micro Credit, Mrs Shimite Bello who also appeared before the committee suffered the same fate as the relevant documents for the budget defense exercise were not readily available.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Festus Okoh directed the officials to go back to perfect their documentation and to return at a date to be communicated to them.