The Nigerian House of Representatives Committee has lambasted the country’s National Lottery Act 2005, labelling it ‘not in the public interest’ and ‘against Nigerian constitution’, according to a report in Nairametrics.
At the 2022 to 2024 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper summit, attended by members of ministries, governmental departments and committee Chair, Rep. James Faleke, figures took issue with the management of the National Lottery Trust Fund.
Faleke raised issues that the Fund was not given the necessary fund nor power to implement positive change as it is supposed to.
“It is not in agreement with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as to who has the authority to approve the budget; it is not the president, the president shall present, and the National Assembly shall approve,” Rep Faleke said, courtesy of Nairametrics.
“In the meantime, we are giving this directive; that the Budget Office should write a letter to the Trust Fund pending the investigation we intend to carry out on the National Lottery Trust Fund, all revenue remittance to the fund should stop for now.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Fund, Belo Maigeri, noted that the Fund is expected to carry out its operations and perform its duties out of its own pocket, rather than from lottery funds.
He noted: “Section 40 of the Act says proceeds of the trust fund shall be applied from time to time to fund projects approved by the President on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, in the interest of the Nigerian community.
“Such a project shall be for the advancement, upliftment and promotion of sports development, education, social services, welfare, relief, and disaster management in Nigeria.
This comes shortly after the Nigerian authorities announced it would impose a central monitoring system on its National Lottery after allegations of corruption in the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.