N2 Billion Boot Camp Controversy: National Assembly Grills Steel Development Minister

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Steel Development on Wednesday questioned the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar, over a N2 billion budget allocation allegedly meant for a youth boot camp for metal works training but captured differently in the 2024 budget.

N2 Billion Boot Camp Controversy: National Assembly Grills Steel Development Minister
N2 Billion Boot Camp Controversy: National Assembly Grills Steel Development Minister

During the budget defense session, the committee raised concerns about discrepancies in the project’s description. While the ministry advertised the initiative as a “Youth Boot Camp Training” for 700 youths, the 2024 budget listed it under “Technical Support for SMEs Training Around Foundry Production in Three Geopolitical Zones.”

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Co-chairman of the Committee, Hon. Zainab Gimba, expressed her dissatisfaction, questioning why a project targeting youth development was misrepresented.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, warned that such discrepancies could lead to allegations of misappropriation. She emphasized the potential legal consequences, stating, “This could be construed as carrying out an exercise not contained in the budget, leading to misappropriation of funds.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan further cautioned the minister, referencing the N1.6 billion already released from the budgeted N2 billion. “Even though you have not spent a kobo yet, this misstep could attract the attention of anti-graft agencies like the EFCC. You need to correct this now to avoid complications,” she advised.

Adding to this, Hon. Gimba noted that she had previously flagged the issue with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary but was dismissed. “I told him this was not correctly done, but he insisted on proceeding as planned. We are not here to wait for mistakes and then penalize you. This is an opportunity to correct the error,” she said.

In response to the committee’s concerns, the joint committee summoned the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, demanding their presence within 24 hours to address the declining capital budget for the steel sector.

Additionally, the committee declared a state of emergency on scrap collection, emphasizing the need for safeguarding government infrastructure and enhancing steel production. It proposed establishing scrap collection centers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

The committee stressed its commitment to transparency and accountability in the steel sector, urging all stakeholders to align with best practices to avoid future lapses.

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