The House of Representatives has indicted 31 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over financial irregularities amounting to over N103.8 billion and $950,912.05.
This is as the House has also asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission to go after the MDAs to recover the funds and remit to the treasury.
This was sequel to a motion sponsored by Rep. Bamidele Salam, on Tuesday, based on the findings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during its review of the Auditor-General’s Annual Reports for the years ending December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2020, including findings related to internal control weaknesses and non-compliance within government entities.
In line with the Standing Orders of the House, the adopted recommendations aim to ensure accountability by mandating the recovery of public funds and imposing sanctions where necessary.
Among the institutions cited in the 2019 recommendations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was indicted for unauthorised spending on a presidential lodge project at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
The committee demanded that over N124 million and nearly $795,000 be refunded to the federal treasury.
Additional sums, including N31.7 million and $155,923.00, were also flagged as illegally expended without appropriation.
The ministry was instructed to recover N49.4 million paid for renovation without following procurement procedures, and N9.2 million disbursed to embassy officials without proper documentation.
Also, the Bank of Agriculture was indicted over uncollected debts amounting to N75.6 billion.
The committee directed the management to publish the list of debtors in at least three national newspapers and called on anti-corruption agencies to recover the outstanding funds.
An additional N350 million must be recovered and evidence submitted within 90 days.
The Nigeria Correctional Service was instructed to recover and remit N7.47 million in unpaid withholding taxes.
The committee further emphasized the urgent need to empower agency heads to appoint external auditors in the absence of governing boards, suggesting an amendment to the Financial Regulations or a circular to be issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu presiding over the sitting, alongside other lawmakers, commended Rep. Bamidele Salam and the Committee members for their meticulous and rigorous efforts in producing a comprehensive and impactful report.
DAILY TRUST.
