03-27-2019, 09:53 AM
2018 Budget: Reps Uncover N1bn Spent On Mapping By Surveyor’s Office
3/27/2019 06:32:00 am politics
![[Image: Toby-Okechwu-696x445.jpg]](https://www.independent.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Toby-Okechwu-696x445.jpg)
The House of Representatives Committee on Works on Tuesday found out that the sum of N1 billion was allegedly used by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation for mapping two states.The revelation followed interactions with members of the committee at the budget defence exercise of the ministry, during which the Surveyor-General’s office presented its 2019 budget to the committee.
Members of the committee, led by Toby Okechwu (PDP, Enugu) faulted the breakdown of N324 million used for Anambra LGAs, N484 million for Anambra water and river bodies, as well as mapping of Ebonyi South Senatorial zone at the cost of N484 million.
Lawmakers equally queried the increment in the agency’s personnel from 2017 to 2018, even as they asked the office to provide the details of employment within the period, as well as N1.2 billion approved for ground digging in 2018, which was increased to N2.4 billion in the 2019 budget.
Responding, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Ebisintel Awudu, said the office was responsible for mapping of every state for the period of five years at least.
But members disagreed, stressing that “there is nowhere in the world where mapping designs are this high”.
On the addition of personnel, Awudu said the office got approval to employ engineers from level 8 to 10, adding that the Federal Civil Service Commission had been employing staff for the office to about 130 surveyors.
According to him, “I wrote for 12 surveyors, which should come from the states that have international boundaries. The employment of level 12 to 14 surveyors is ongoing in the office.”
Presenting the 2019 budget earlier, Surveyor Awudu said the personnel cost for 2019 budget was N844,192,327.00, with overhead cost of N225, 000,000, while the capital cost N5, 603, 003,988.00, totalling N6,672,196,315.00.
On the 2018 budget, Awudu said the appropriation for the office was N8.15 billion.
He said N3.3 billion was released to the office and it utilised N3.3 billion.
3/27/2019 06:32:00 am politics
The House of Representatives Committee on Works on Tuesday found out that the sum of N1 billion was allegedly used by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation for mapping two states.The revelation followed interactions with members of the committee at the budget defence exercise of the ministry, during which the Surveyor-General’s office presented its 2019 budget to the committee.
Members of the committee, led by Toby Okechwu (PDP, Enugu) faulted the breakdown of N324 million used for Anambra LGAs, N484 million for Anambra water and river bodies, as well as mapping of Ebonyi South Senatorial zone at the cost of N484 million.
Lawmakers equally queried the increment in the agency’s personnel from 2017 to 2018, even as they asked the office to provide the details of employment within the period, as well as N1.2 billion approved for ground digging in 2018, which was increased to N2.4 billion in the 2019 budget.
Responding, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Ebisintel Awudu, said the office was responsible for mapping of every state for the period of five years at least.
But members disagreed, stressing that “there is nowhere in the world where mapping designs are this high”.
On the addition of personnel, Awudu said the office got approval to employ engineers from level 8 to 10, adding that the Federal Civil Service Commission had been employing staff for the office to about 130 surveyors.
According to him, “I wrote for 12 surveyors, which should come from the states that have international boundaries. The employment of level 12 to 14 surveyors is ongoing in the office.”
Presenting the 2019 budget earlier, Surveyor Awudu said the personnel cost for 2019 budget was N844,192,327.00, with overhead cost of N225, 000,000, while the capital cost N5, 603, 003,988.00, totalling N6,672,196,315.00.
On the 2018 budget, Awudu said the appropriation for the office was N8.15 billion.
He said N3.3 billion was released to the office and it utilised N3.3 billion.