The House of Representatives has indicted 31 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) following revelations from the 2019/2020 Auditor-General’s Reports, which uncovered financial irregularities amounting to over ₦103.8 billion and $950,912.05.
In a decisive move to enforce accountability, lawmakers directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover the misappropriated funds and remit them to the federal treasury.
This action followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Bamidele Salam, on Tuesday, based on the findings of the Public Accounts Committee (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.
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 faulted for unauthorized spending on a presidential lodge project at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
The committee demanded that over ₦124 million and nearly $795,000 be refunded to the federal treasury.
Additional sums, including ₦31.7 million and $155,923.00, were also flagged as illegally expended without appropriation.
The Ministry was instructed to recover ₦49.4 million paid for renovation without following procurement procedures, and ₦9.2 million disbursed to embassy officials without proper documentation.
The Bank of Agriculture came under intense scrutiny over uncollected debts amounting to ₦75.6 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 ₦350 million must be recovered and evidence submitted within 90 days.
The Nigeria Correctional Service was instructed to recover and remit ₦7.47 million in unpaid withholding taxes.
Similarly, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) 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 totaling over ₦12 million, with sanctions recommended against the accounting officer responsible.
Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory was flagged for payments totaling ₦82 million 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 totaling over ₦1.3 billion were uncovered.
The former Managing Director was ordered to refund ₦394 million expended on electrification projects not approved by the agency’s Tender Board.
Additional sums, including ₦4.2 million spent on unauthorized publicity and ₦969 million transferred to the Eurobond ledger without authorization, 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 ₦1.1 million in stamp duties from contractors and remit over ₦19 million in outstanding funds, including unremitted IGR and excess payments, to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NCSL) in Abuja was directed to refund over ₦1 billion in total, including ₦95 million in unremitted taxes collected between 2012 and 2018.
The former Managing Director is to recover ₦250 million misappropriated by contractors and staff, refund unauthorized procurement advances, and remit outstanding staff and trade debts totaling nearly ₦700 million.
The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was found to have disbursed ₦14.4 billion in unapproved salaries and allowances.
The committee ordered a full recovery of these payments and an additional ₦432 million representing under-deducted employee allowances.
Furthermore, ₦91.5 million spent on ICT procurement without clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) must also be refunded.
Key Recommendations by the Public Accounts Committee for 2020 Report:
*Ministry of Petroleum Resources*
* Refund ₦12.3 million for unauthorized cash advances above the ₦200,000 limit.
* Refund ₦373.4 million for unapproved virements.
* Refund ₦66.7 million used without prepayment audit.
* Retrieve an official Toyota Prado (Reg. No. A1803FG) from the Transport Officer within 21 days.
*Cross River Basin Development Authority*
* Refund ₦3.5 billion for failing to present 731 payment vouchers from 2019.
* FIRS to recover ₦41.4 million in unremitted stamp duty for a 2019 contract.
* EFCC to investigate ₦278.8 million in contingencies hidden in contracts from 2014–2019.
* FIRS to conduct a back-duty tax investigation for contracts between 2019 and 2020.
* Submit a formal undertaking to avoid late rendition of audited accounts.
* Police to verify claims that contract files were destroyed during the #EndSARS protests.
* EFCC to investigate ₦169.1 million allegedly paid in compensation for the Bunyiaa-Akatom Imuan Dam project.
*National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)*
* Recover ₦27.1 million for unauthorized foreign travel payments to staff.
* FIRS to recover ₦12.4 million in unremitted VAT on contracts.
*Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi (Bayelsa State)*
* Refund ₦32.1 million due to advisory negligence in awarding a construction contract on unsuitable land.
*Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy*
* Refund ₦4.8 million paid for unapproved international training in South Korea.
*Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria*
* Cautioned for spending ₦10.2 million on an external solicitor without necessary approvals.
*National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC), Lagos*
* EFCC and ICPC to recover ₦7.2 million overpaid to a contractor for office building construction.
*Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company*
* Recover ₦188.3 million from ex-CEO Marylin Amobi and others for property loans.
* Use legal channels to recover $69.3 million owed by a Benin Republic-based firm.
* Recover ₦63.6 million worth of properties allegedly converted for personal use by the former MD.
* Recover ₦7 million in under-deducted stamp duties from 2019 contracts.
*National Film and Video Censor Board*
* FIRS to recover ₦4.3 million in unpaid withholding tax.
* Refund ₦20.2 million spent on unauthorized police training programs.
* EFCC to investigate ₦18.5 million and ₦43.5 million in potentially fictitious contracts.
* Treasury to suspend further allocations due to violation of e-payment policy.
* Refund ₦27.2 million spent on unauthorized international travels.
*Police Service Commission*
* Sanctioned for exceeding approved mobilization limits, totaling ₦110.8 million, without required guarantees.
*Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation*
* Refund ₦71.9 million for unauthorized virement.
* Provide evidence of ₦198.1 million tax remittances.
* Refund ₦123.7 million and ₦149 million spent on unapproved international trips.
* Warned over unauthorized ICT procurement and illegal recruitment practices.
*Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu*
* Cautioned for unauthorized cash advances totaling ₦14 million.
*Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka*
* Refund ₦27.4 million for unauthorized engagement of external solicitors.
* Investigate ₦165.8 million unauthorized investment without returns.
*Federal Medical Centre, Bida*
* Investigate ₦245.4 million in direct procurements and ₦210.7 million contract splitting.
* Refund multiple unapproved virements and payments totaling over ₦600 million.
* Investigate ₦61.3 million in over-mobilization and refund ₦42.2 million overpaid to a contractor.
*Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria*
* Recover ₦5.8 million in undeducted stamp duty from 2019 contracts.
*Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe*
* Recover ₦2.6 million in unpaid stamp duties and refund ₦66.8 million in unapproved virements.
*Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital*
* Remit ₦47.6 million in unpaid statutory taxes to FIRS within 60 days.
*Department of ICT, Nigeria Police Force HQ*
* Refund ₦1.1 billion spent on ICT without NITDA approval.
* Ensure full compliance with audit access moving forward.
*Ministry of Labour and Employment*
* Refund ₦351 million for unaccounted Geneva Labour Desk funds.
* Investigate numerous questionable payments and projects totaling over ₦1.5 billion.
* Recover funds related to consultancy, job centers, skill acquisition centers, and irregular procurements.
*Ministry of Mines and Steel Development*
* Refund ₦16 million in taxes lost due to misuse of cash advances for procurement purposes.
*University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom*
* Recover ₦36.9 million overpaid to contractor.
* Investigate ₦488.1 million in unexecuted contracts and ₦60.9 million in unexplained administration costs.
* Refund ₦12 million paid as irregular allowances and ₦47.7 million in tax defaults.
* Sanction for unauthorized contract variation totaling ₦1.02 billion.
The PAC called on various anti-corruption agencies including the EFCC, ICPC, and FIRS to investigate, recover, and enforce compliance across the implicated institutions.
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.
Rt. Hon. Kalu stated, “You are one of our best,” recognising the committee’s dedication to accountability and transparency.
In his earlier remarks, Representative Bamidele Salam emphasized the need for timely adoption of the report’s recommendations, noting Nigeria’s lagging position in comparison to other African countries within WAAPAC and AFROPAC frameworks.
He observed that while countries like Kenya are currently reviewing the Auditor-General’s Report for 2023/2024, Nigeria is still addressing issues from the 2019/2020 report, which falls short of expectations.
“We need to adopt the Public Accounts Committee consideration without delay,” Salam urged.
