The House of Representatives has condemned contractors’ handling Nigeria Navy projects across the country for not completing jobs at appropriate periods as agreed.

The House also commended the force in charge of safeguarding the waterways integrity of the country in its 2020/2021 budget appraisal, recommending more funding for the force in 2022.

Chairman of House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, made these revelations on Monday, during the force 2020/21 budget appraisal and defence at the National Assembly, green chamber, adopting its proposal for the year 2022.

Gagdi in his remarks said: “The Committee observed with pessimistic views, the spillover projects, against agreed timelines by some contractors including some that spanned beyond 3 years period without sign of completion, handed over to the Navy or concrete Work-In-Progress.

“Henceforth, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will not hesitate to call to order any MDA and in this case, the Nigerian Navy where it fails to checkmate any airing contractor whose stock in trade is to waste taxpayers money by taking for granted, delivery of public goods and services within specified timeframe and quality job.”

The House Committee which earlier carried out, on the site inspection of Naval projects at its Headquarter, Base and Formations of the four (4) Commands of the Navy in order to acquaint itself with the achievements, challenges, commended the force saying; “where necessary, and in line with what the Committee saw on ground, it will certainly recommend for increased budgetary allocations to the Navy.

“This is against the backdrop of noted problems which are enormous and need for open and legal recommendations for doors and more windows towards granting more legal powers to the Navy by way of providing sufficient legal frameworks.

“This is also a chance for us to collectively ascertain what we all need to do, in order to strengthen the Navy to carry out its functions without incumbrances.

“Owing to what was seen on ground and within the insufficient appropriations made in the existing year 2021, this Honourable Committee did observe that there were generally commendable performances of the Navy in the last one year.

“Navy presence at sea has increased security in the waterways; professionalism is now brought to play; while this Committee is reflecting on the way that resources are being utilized to drive the Navy ‘Onward Together’ with other sister security agencies in Nigeria and across the neighbouring countries. This must be commended,” Gagdi stated.

The Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Admiral Auwal Z Gambo, while presenting the 2022 budget told the Committee that Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), of the Service in the year, 2022, would be over N232 million, revealing that the force would make more money from the auction of unserviceable equipments, Value Added Tax (VAT) amongst others.

Reviewing the 2021 budget performance, Gambo explained that the capital budget of N25.3 billion was appropriated for 2021 and has so far been fully released and expensed.

According to him, the released funds have been used to implement critical projects.

On the 2022 budget proposal, the Naval Chief said that a total of N220,236,832,129.64 was proposed but was slashed to N25.8 billion by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

He said: “Our priority projects as outlined in the strategic plan, 2021 to 2030 are fleet renewal, concept and organization, capital development, fleet support Infrastructure, operations, logistics as well as personnel welfare.

“Thus for the year 2022, the Nigerian Navy initial capital expenditure budgetary estimates amounted to N220,236,832,129.64.

“However, the Nigerian Navy was obliged to review the estimate down to the N25.8 billion equivalent to about 11 per cent of the Nigerian Navy’s needs, which was given by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.”