The House of Representatives has tasked its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness with assessing the operations of the National Emergency Management Agency to ensure compliance with its designated responsibilities.
Additionally, the House directed the committee to appraise NEMA’s capacity for disaster response, focusing on personnel expertise and the adequacy of response and management infrastructure.
These decisions emerged from the House’s endorsement of a motion titled “Need to Strengthen the National Emergency Management Agency to Enhance Speedy Response to Emergencies and Disaster Occurrences in Nigeria,” introduced by Philip Agbese (APC, Benue).
Agbese highlighted NEMA’s core mandate of managing disasters within Nigeria and emphasized that the agency is constitutionally tasked with coordinating and facilitating resources for disaster mitigation activities in response to distress calls.
Moreover, Agbese pointed out that NEMA is responsible for formulating disaster management policies and coordinating programs to ensure efficient and effective responses to national-level disasters.
He underscored NEMA’s funding sources, noting that apart from other revenue streams, the agency receives 20 percent of the funds allocated to the Ecological Funds Accounts, amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira from its inception to the present day.
Agbese highlighted concerns within the House regarding numerous grievances lodged against NEMA by disaster victims and stakeholders, citing instances of delayed and inefficient interventions that have raised doubts among those affected.
He emphasized that NEMA has primarily focused on providing relief materials, neglecting swift responses to distress and disaster emergencies, which has prompted worries among stakeholders and victims.
Agbese cautioned that if NEMA’s current approach persists unchecked, it could erode public trust, leading to its transformation into a bureaucratic entity and a means for unscrupulous individuals to exploit.
Assuring the House’s commitment, he pledged to fortify NEMA in aligning with the provisions of its Establishment Act, particularly emphasizing prompt and proactive responses to disaster emergencies and distress calls.
Upon adoption of the motion, the House directed the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to propose actionable recommendations for enhancing the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.
A report is expected within four weeks for further legislative considerations.
