Nasarawa Assembly gives Access Bank 3 days ultimatum to pay SUBEB contractors
Story from Ibraheem HAMZA, Muhammad
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has given a three days ultimatum to the Access Bank Nigeria Limited to resolve all pending issues relating to the non-release of money meant for the payment of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) contracts and the continued deduction of interest by the bank on money yet to be released to the board.
The Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Honourable Daniel Ogazi gave the order when the Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Access Bank, Hadiza Ambursa led other management teams to appear before the committee Wednesday in Lafia, the state’s capital.
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Ogazi said that the House gave the bank another chance due to a plea by the Executive Director of the bank that she has just gotten the information on the issues at hand.
“We are giving you from now to Friday this week to resolve the matter at hand once and for, all so that by Monday next week we will be able to inform the House plenary on the progress made so far.
“We have invited the Group Managing Director of Access Bank on the need for him to explain why the bank is holding the state government’s money meant for the payment of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) contracts and why there is the continuing deduction of interest by the bank on money yet to be released to SUBEB for payment to contractors.
“After our explanation, the Executive Director said that the committee should give her more time to resolve the issues.
“She informed us that she is just getting some of the information now and she needs time to meet with the board and state government to discuss the issues extensively in order to solve it once and for all,” Ogazi said.
He added that “Non-payment of money to contractors that handled primary school projects is affecting the school projects and those contractors negatively.”
The committee chairman urged the bank to do the needful in the interest of peace and development.
It could be recalled that on Monday, November 22, the Nassarawa State House of Assembly threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Limited if she failed to appear before its committee on Education within 24 hours.
Honourable Daniel Ogazi gave the threat when the Zonal Head of Access Bank, Mr Alexius Ayabam appeared before its committee in Lafia.
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