The Federal House of Representatives have opened investigation into the budgetary allocations to the Federal Ministry of Interior under in the past two years.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who said this during plenary on Wednesday noted that the house is worried by the deteriorating condition of staff and inmates in spite of over N165 billion budgetary allocation to the ministry in the past two years.
The House also decided to probe the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Services Haliru Nababa alongside the minister.
The decision of the House followed a motion of urgent National Importance by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu,
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is locked in a battle with his erstwhile godfather, and APC National leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the control of the APC in Osun State.
The Speaker of the House of Reps is believed to be a strong follower of Tinubu who Aregbesola had accused of turning himself into a god.
It is not clear whether the sudden decision of the House to probe the finances of the ministry is a fallout of the misunderstanding between Aregbesola and his estranged godfather.
The House resolution came via a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority Leader of the House.
“The House is disturbed that despite this Act and increase in budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Correctional Service to drive its renewed mandate, the tempo and quality of the service have remained the same if not retrogressing,” Elumelu said.
After deliberations on the motion, the House resolved to mandate its Committee on Reformatory Institutions to look into the issues raised.
The committee has 12 weeks to report to the House for further action on the issue.