The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to probe the spending of N165billion earmarked for the development of prisons across the country.
Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, presided at plenary, where the decision was taken to probe the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and prisons chief, Haliru Nababa, over the cash.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance by Ndudi Elumelu, minority leader of the House, on the floor of the House on Wednesday in Abuja.
In his argument, Mr Elumelu criticised the welfare of the workforce.
“The House is disturbed that despite this Act and increase in budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Correctional Service to drive its renewed mandate, the tempo and quality of the Service have remained the same if not retrogressing,” Mr Elumelu said.
“The House is worried that the working conditions of Staff and inmates’ welfare have deteriorated notwithstanding the over N165 billion budget allocations to the Service in the last two years.”
The legislators resolved to have its committee on Reformatory Institutions investigate the allegations and report to the House within 12 weeks for further legislative action.
The move comes as Messrs Aregbesola and Tinubu are slugging it out publicly over the power tussle in Osun State.
On Monday, Aregbesola was at a political rally where Tinubu was severely derided, including being mocked over the viral video that many said depicted public urination on his body.
Aregbesola has been locked in a fierce political battle with his former Chief of Staff and successor, Gboyega Oyetola, accusing him and Tinubu of conniving to rubbish his legacies in Osun State.
Tinubu and Oyetola are believed to be of the same family, with Oyetola often describing himself as a younger brother to Tinubu.