The House of Representatives has indicted several federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) over financial irregularities amounting to ₦103.8 billion and $950,912, as exposed in the 2019 and 2020 reports of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
Following deliberations on Tuesday, lawmakers directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover all misappropriated funds and return them to the federal purse.
The resolution came after a motion sponsored by Bamidele Salam, a member of the House, citing the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) deep review of the auditor-general’s findings. The reports detailed widespread internal control weaknesses and persistent non-compliance across 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.”
In the 2019 audit report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was accused of unauthorised spending on a presidential lodge at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
The committee demanded a refund of “₦124 million and $795,000,” in addition to ₦49.4 million spent on renovations without procurement processes and ₦9.2 million disbursed to embassy staff without supporting documents.
It further flagged ₦31.7 million and $155,923 as funds spent without appropriation.
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) was cited for “₦75.6 billion in uncollected debts” and was directed to publish the names of debtors in three national newspapers. Lawmakers also asked anti-corruption agencies to recover the debts along with “an additional ₦350 million” within 90 days.
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) was ordered to remit “₦7.47 million in unpaid withholding tax,” while the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) was instructed to recover eight official vehicles and retrieve four others being held unlawfully by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
NEPZA was further cited for procurement breaches totalling “over ₦12 million,” with disciplinary action recommended against the responsible accounting officer.
In the FCT, Kwali Area Council was flagged for making “₦82 million in payments to 105 unidentified beneficiaries.” The former chairman was ordered to recover and account for the funds.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was directed to collaborate with the Accountant-General of the Federation to generate a full record of credited items for both federation and non-federation accounts to enhance accountability.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) was cited for infractions exceeding “₦1.3 billion.” Its former managing director was directed to refund “₦394 million spent on unapproved projects.”
The committee also flagged “₦4.2 million” spent on unauthorised publicity and “₦969 million” transferred to a Eurobond ledger without approval, recommending sanctions for all involved officials.
“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 report added.
It continued, “The former managing director is to recover ₦250 million misappropriated by contractors and staff, refund unauthorised procurement advances, and remit outstanding staff and trade debts totalling nearly ₦700 million.”
The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was indicted for disbursing “₦14.4 billion in unapproved salaries and allowances.”
The 2020 audit report also cited the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for unauthorised cash advances of “₦12.3 million,” unapproved virements of “₦373.4 million,” and expenditure of “₦66.7 million” without prepayment audits.
The Cross River Basin Development Authority was asked to refund “₦3.5 billion” over 731 missing payment vouchers. The EFCC and FIRS were tasked with probing related tax and contract violations.
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) was ordered to refund “₦27.1 million” spent on unauthorised foreign trips, while the FIRS was instructed to recover “₦12.4 million” in outstanding VAT.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development was directed to return “₦16 million” lost in taxes due to irregular cash advance procurement.
Similarly, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy was asked to repay “₦4.8 million” spent on an unapproved international training in South Korea.
Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company was ordered to recover “₦188.3 million” in property loans from its former CEO, “$69.3 million” owed by a Benin Republic firm, and “₦63.6 million” in assets allegedly diverted by its former MD.
The EFCC and ICPC were mandated to recover “₦7.2 million” overpaid to a contractor for a National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC) office project in Lagos.
The Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation was directed to refund “₦71.9 million” for unauthorised virements, provide evidence of “₦198.1 million” in tax remittances, and repay “₦123.7 million” and “₦149 million” spent on unapproved foreign trips.
Also cited were the National Film and Video Censor Board, Federal Medical Centres in Bida and Gombe, teaching hospitals in Zaria and Kano, and several federal colleges and universities, including the University of Uyo and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, applauded Salam and the Public Accounts Committee for their “meticulous and rigorous” work in producing the report.
Salam, in his remarks, stressed the need to swiftly implement the committee’s recommendations, noting that Nigeria lags behind other African countries in auditing government accounts.
He urged the House to act without delay, citing the need to restore accountability and confidence in public financial management.