Reps set to investigate details of palliatives disbursement to airlines, others

Chinazor Megbolu

The House of Representatives has said it will soon investigate the details of Covid-19 palliatives disbursement to airlines and other organisations.

The lower chamber disclosed this on Monday, saying they will investigate the disbursement of Covid-19 palliatives to airlines and other organisations in the nation’s aviation sector by the Ministry of Aviation by cutting short its Easter holiday celebration.

The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Mr. Nnolim Nnaji, in a signed statement, said the allegations by some of the operators on the disbursement of the largesse were too weighty to be ignored.

“The committee decided to cut short its break to look into the matter because of the critical role the aviation industry plays in the overall economy of the country,” Nnaji said.

He further noted that the committee had made up its mind to demand from the Ministry of Aviation the detailed disbursement of the intervention fund, adding that the move is not in any way to witch-hunt anybody.

Nnaji clarified that the reason for the investigation was to clear every doubt over the disbursements.

According to him; “we want to know the detailed disbursements, airline by airline, the parastatals under the ministry and other organisations”.

He also pointed out that the committee was aware of the challenges the aviation sector is faced with as a result of the Covid-19 impact and the genuine concerns by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on the need for the Federal Government’s palliative to the sector.

Nnaji, however, posited that some of the airline operators, had complained that despite being asked to submit their details, which they claimed they did, but regretted that they were yet to hear from the government.

“They also alleged that the ministry was doing selective disbursements and that the exercise lacked transparency and urged the committee to investigate it,” he said.