How N2.5 Billion went down the drain at NABDA

A two billion-naira corruption allegation arising from dubious implementation of the 2016 budget allocation has been levelled against the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) headquarters and the twenty-six (26) bio-resource development centres across the nation.

In a petition sent to the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on anti-corruption dated 14thMarch 2017 which was exclusively obtained by AljazirahNigeria, the National Anti-Corruption Network, said it noticed a financial misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and abuse of office at NABDA and the bio-resource development centres.

The petition was signed by Philip Adejo and Yakubu Mohammed.

The network called on the committee to invite the agency for questioning on the alleged breach.

It alleged that in the 2016 appropriation, the federal government approved a total yearly budget of Two billion, two hundred and twenty-five million, eight hundred and twenty-six thousand, one hundred and sixty-five naira (N2,255,826,165:00) for the agency in Abuja alone.

“Of this amount, One billion, three hundred and forty-four million, seven hundred and fifty-one thousand naira, nine hundred and eighty-two naira (N1,344,751,982:00) only was appropriated for total personnel cost, whilst eight hundred and twenty-three million, twenty-two thousand and nine hundred and eight naira (N823,022,908) was appropriated for total capital expenditure.

“It is curious to note that the amount approved for personnel expenditure includes cost of recruitment of new staff/employees for NABDA Abuja. Unfortunately, no new staff was recruited for the period whilst the amount approved in the said appropriation act has been fully released and diverted by the chief accounting officer and alter ego of the agency.

“Likewise, the funds earmarked for capital expenditure, have also suffered the same fate, despite timely release by the federal ministry of finance. No sign of visible infrastructure project/development in the agency here in Abuja. This is disturbing, it is illegal and not just in breach of the criminal laws of this land but of the appropriation act 2016”, the network noted.

Also according to the network, worrisome is the fact that all the twenty-six bio-resource development centres seem to have taken a cue from the mother agency as funds meant for personnel expenditure have been diverted and misappropriated.

“In biotechnology development agency, Odi, Bayelsa state for instance, two hundred and seventy-one million, five hundred and five thousand, five hundred and ninety-six naira (N271,505,596:00) was allocated for total personnel cost whilst one hundred million (N100,000,000:00) was approved for capital expenditure. Out of the N271,505,596:00, monies were approved for recruitment of new staff, however, no recruitment was done. This again is a flagrant breach of the appropriation act and other financial and criminal laws of the land.

AljazirahNigeria independently gathered that the network is a group of seasoned professionals with passion for transparency and probity in the conduct of government business.

It says it is posed to assist the federal government and the national assembly in any legal manner possible to combat and eradicate corruption, financial misappropriation in all spheres of our national life especially in the public service.

“We therefore in the spirit of patriotism urge this committee to look into the allegations contained herein and invite the Director General of the agency and the directors of all the twenty-six bioresources centres in the country to appear before the committee to exonerate of the allegations herein contained as soon as possible and before the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Act”, the group concluded.

AljazirahNigeria sent a request for information and reaction to the allegations via the email and phone line contacts of the Director- General, Professor Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu (Phone: 234-705 566 3335 Email:l.j.ogbadu@nabda.gov.ng) provided on the outfit’s website.

The medium is yet to get a response but will publish such as soon as it is received.

AljazirahNigeria reports that in recognition of the importance of biotechnology to national development, the Federal Executive Council on 23rd of April 2001 approved the National Biotechnology Policy, which led to the establishment of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in November 2001.

The Agency was established under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to implement the policy that is aimed at promoting, coordinating, and setting research and development priority in biotechnology for Nigeria. Based on this premise, the programmes of the agency are structured in line with the international standard bearing in mind the development of local technological contents.

It mandate amongst others include Promotion, coordination and deployment of cutting-edge biotechnology research & development, processes and products for the socio–economic well-being of the nation.