The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has called on the Economic and Financial and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover the sums of N103.8billion and $950,000 from 31 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies indicted in the 2019/2020 Auditor-General’s Report.
The resolution of the Committee followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman, Bamidele Salam (APC, Osun) on Tuesday, based on the findings of PAC during its extensive 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.
The report faulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 coffers by the Ministry. Also N31.7million and $155,923 were allegedly spent by the Ministry without authorisation.
A statement on Tuesday night by the media unit of the Committee noted, “The Ministry was instructed to recover N49.4million paid for renovation without following procurement procedures, and ₦9.2m disbursed to embassy officials without proper documentation.”
The statement also revealed, “The Bank of Agriculture came under intense scrutiny over uncollected debts amounting to N75.6billion. 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 N350million must be recovered and evidence submitted within 90 days.”
The statement further read, “The Nigeria Correctional Service was instructed to recover and remit N7.47million in unpaid withholding taxes. The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority was directed 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 totalling over N12milllion, with sanctions recommended against the accounting officer responsible. Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory was flagged for payments totalling N82milllion made to 105 unidentified beneficiaries. The former Council Chairman was tasked with recovering and remitting the funds to the treasury and providing supporting evidence to the committee.”
“The Nigeria Customs Service 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, financial infractions totalling over N1.3billlion were uncovered.
“The former Managing Director was ordered to refund N394million expended on electrification projects not approved by the agency’s Tender Board. Additional sums, including N4.2million spent on unauthorised publicity and N969million transferred to the Eurobond ledger without authorisation, were also flagged, with disciplinary measures recommended for responsible officers. The Veterinary Council of Nigeria was cited for unremitted stamp duties and internally generated revenue.
“The Council must recover N1.1million in stamp duties from contractors and remit over N19milllion in outstanding funds, including unremitted IGR and excess payments, to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Consolidated Revenue Fund. Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited in Abuja was directed to refund over N1billion in total, including N95million in unremitted taxes collected between 2012 and 2018. The former Managing Director is to recover N250million misappropriated by contractors and staff, refund unauthorised procurement advances, and remit outstanding staff and trade debts totalling nearly N700million.”
On its part, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was found to have disbursed N14.4billion in unapproved salaries and allowances.
“The committee ordered a full recovery of these payments and an additional N432million representing under-deducted employee allowances.
Furthermore, N91.5million spent on ICT procurement without clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency must also be refunded.
The Committee further recommended that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources refund N12.3million for unauthorised cash advances above the N200,000 limit.
The Ministry was also urged to “Refund N373.4million for unapproved virements; refund N66.7million used without prepayment audit and retrieve an official Toyota Prado (Reg. No. A1803FG) from the Transport Officer within 21 days.”
The Cross River Basin Development Authority is to “Refund N3.5billion for failing to present 731 payment vouchers from 2019. The Federal Inland Revenue Service is to recover N41.4million in unremitted stamp duty for a 2019 contract. EFCC to investigate N278.8million in contingencies hidden in contracts from 2014–2019. FIRS to conduct a back-duty tax investigation for contracts between 2019 and 2020 and submit a formal undertaking to avoid late rendition of audited accounts,” among others.
The Committee also recommended that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy “Refunds N4.8million paid for unapproved international training in South Korea.”
It also charged Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company to “Recover N188.3m from ex-CEO Marylin Amobi and others for property loans. Use legal channels to recover $69.3million owed by a Benin Republic-based firm. Recover N63.6million worth of properties allegedly converted for personal use by the former Managing Director. ”
The Police Service Commission was “Sanctioned for exceeding approved mobilisation limits, totalling N110.8million, without required guarantees.
The Committee called on various anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC, and FIRS, to investigate, recover, and enforce compliance across the implicated institutions.
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