Missing N44bn: Miners task FG on solidmineral funds

ABUJA – Miners Association of Nigeria has called on
the Federal Government to stop allocating money
meant for solid minerals development to Special
Intervention Fund on Solid Minerals.
The association said the Solid Minerals Commission
was the body meant to receive any money in
respect of development of solid minerals.
The organisation's position came amidst last
week's revelation by the Senator Ahmad Lawan-led
Senate Committee on Public Accounts that N44
billion was missing from the Federal Government's
Special Intervention Fund on Solid Minerals.
The committee discovered the missing funds
during an interactive session it had with officials of
Federal Ministry of Finance; Central Bank of
Nigeria, CBN and Office of the Accountant-General
of the Federation, AGF.
The association's National President, Alhaji Sani
Shehu, reacting to the development, weekend, in
Abuja, said: He said: "There is no basis for the
Federal Government to keep sending money meant
for development of solid minerals to Special
Intervention Fund, when the Solid Minerals
Commission, the body meant to carry out functions
in respect of development of the nation's solid
minerals, is in existence."
urged the Federal Government to forthwith, halt
depositing money meant for development of solid
minerals in Special Intervention Fund account, but
to pay the money into the account of newly-
established Solid Minerals Commission.