The house of representatives has indicted federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) over alleged financial irregularities totalling N103.8 billion and $950,912, as revealed in the 2019 and 2020 auditor-general’s reports.
In a bid to enforce accountability, lawmakers on Tuesday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover “misappropriated funds” and return them to the federal treasury.
The directive followed a motion sponsored by Bamidele Salam, member of the house, drawing from the public accounts committee’s (PAC) extensive review of the auditor-general’s reports for the 2019 and 2020 financial years, which exposed widespread internal control lapses and non-compliance across various government agencies.
A statement issued after the plenary said the adopted recommendations, in line with the Standing Orders of the House, aim to recover public funds and impose sanctions where appropriate.
‘MISMANAGEMENT ACROSS MINISTRIES, AGENCIES’
Among the 2019 audit findings, the ministry of foreign affairs was faulted for unauthorised expenditure on a presidential lodge at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
The committee demanded a refund of N124 million and $795,000, in addition to N49.4 million paid for renovations without due procurement and N9.2 million disbursed to embassy staff without documentation.
Additional sums, including N31.7 million and $155,923.00, were also flagged as illegally expended without appropriation.
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) was flagged over N75.6 billion in uncollected debts, and was instructed to publish the names of debtors in three national newspapers.
The lawmakers called on anti-corruption agencies to recover the outstanding funds and an additional N350 million within 90 days.
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) was asked to remit N7.47 million in unpaid withholding tax, while the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) was ordered to retrieve eight official vehicles, and ensure the return of four operational vehicles unlawfully retained by the ministry of industry, trade, and investment.
NEPZA was also cited for procurement violations totaling over N12 million, with sanctions recommended against the accounting officer responsible.
In the Federal Capital Territory, Kwali Area Councilwas flagged for N82 million in payments to 105 unidentified beneficiaries.
The former council chairman was directed to recover the funds and provide evidence to the committee.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was instructed to work with the accountant-general of the federation to produce a detailed list of all items credited to both the federation and non-federation accounts to ensure transparent accounting.
At the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), infractions totalling over N1.3 billion were uncovered.
The agency’s former MD was directed to refund N394 million spent on unapproved projects.
Additional sums including N4.2 million spent on unauthorised publicity and N969 million transferred to the Eurobond ledger without approval were also flagged, with disciplinary measures recommended for responsible officers.
“Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NCSL) in Abuja was directed to refund over N1 billion in total, including N95 million in unremitted taxes collected between 2012 and 2018,” the statement reads.
“The former managing director is to recover N250 million misappropriated by contractors and staff, refund unauthorised procurement advances, and remit outstanding staff and trade debts totaling nearly N700 million.
“The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was found to have disbursed N14.4 billion in unapproved salaries and allowances.”
OTHER AGENCIES INDICTED IN 2020 REPORT
The 2020 auditor-general’s report flagged the ministry of petroleum resources, directing it to refund N12.3 million for unauthorised cash advances, N373.4 million for virements made without approval, and N66.7 million spent without undergoing prepayment audits.
The Cross River Basin Development Authority was directed to refund N3.5 billion due to the absence of 731 payment vouchers, while the EFCC and FIRS were tasked with probing tax violations and contract anomalies.
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) was ordered to repay N27.1 million for unauthorised foreign travel, and the FIRS was instructed to recover N12.4 million in outstanding VAT.
The federal ministry of mines and steel development was told to return N16 million in tax losses linked to improper use of cash advances for procurement.
Similarly, the ministry of communication and digital economy was asked to repay N4.8 million used for an unapproved international training in South Korea.
Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company was instructed to recover N188.3 million in property loans from its former CEO, $69.3 million owed by a Benin Republic-based firm, and N63.6 million in assets allegedly converted by the former MD.
The EFCC and ICPC were mandated to recover N7.2 million overpaid to a contractor for an office project at the National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC) in Lagos.
The Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation was directed to refund N71.9 million for unauthorised virements, provide evidence of N198.1 million in tax remittances, and repay N123.7 million and N149 million used for unapproved foreign trips.
Other institutions cited include the National Film and Video Censor Board, Federal Medical Centres in Bida and Gombe, teaching hospitals in Zaria and Kano, and multiple federal colleges and universities, including the University of Uyo and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
‘LET’S ADOPT PAC’S RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT DELAY’
Presiding over the session, Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house, commended Salam and members of the public accounts committee for their “meticulous and rigorous” efforts in producing a comprehensive report.
In his remarks, Salam stressed the urgency of implementing the committee’s recommendations, citing Nigeria’s slow pace in reviewing audit reports compared to peer nations in Africa.(The Cable)
