The House of Representatives has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover over ₦103.8 billion and $950,912.05 from 31 government agencies and remit the same to government coffers.
This followed the adoption of a report of the House Committee on Public Accounts which indicted the 31 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for financial irregularities and breaching the financial regulations of the country as contained in the 2019/2020 Auditor-General’s Reports.
The report of the committee was presented to the House for adoption by its Chairman, Bamidele Salam, who said that the infractions were contained in 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs was indicted for spending over ₦124 million and nearly $795,000 in 2019 on a presidential lodge project at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, as well as an additional ₦31.7 million and $155,923.00, which were also flagged as illegal expenditure without appropriation.
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While 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 was asked to refund about 75.6 billion to the government.
In addition, the management of the bank was asked to publish the list of debtors in at least three national newspapers and called on anti-corruption agencies to recover the outstanding funds, while an additional ₦350 million must be recovered and evidence submitted within 90 days.
Other agencies of government who were directed by the House to recover and remittance to the government include Nigeria Correctional Service who are to remit about ₦7.47 million in unpaid withholding taxes, while the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) was directed to recover eight official vehicles and ensure the return of four operational vehicles unlawfully retained by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
The House also wants the Nigeria Customs Service to work closely 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.
Apart from the N1.3 billion infraction discovered at the Rural Electrification Agency, its former Managing Director is to refund ₦394 million expended on electrification projects not approved by the agency’s Tender Board while an additional ₦4.2 million spent on unauthorized publicity and ₦969 million transferred to the Eurobond ledger without authorization are to be recovered an officers responsible for infraction sanctioned.
The Veterinary Council of Nigeria was accused of unremitted stamp duties and internally generated revenue and directed to 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.
Also indicted by the report, which was adopted by the House at plenary, is the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NCSL), which was directed to refund over ₦1 billion in total, including ₦95 million in unremitted taxes collected between 2012 and 2018.
In addition, 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 accused of disbursing ₦14.4 billion in unapproved salaries and allowances and ordered to return the money to the beneficiaries in addition to ₦432 million representing under-deducted employee allowances as well as ₦91.5 million spent on ICT procurement without clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Others to refund money to the government include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources who are to 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 and the retrieval of an official Toyota Prado (Reg. No. A1803FG) from the Transport Officer within 21 days.
In addition, the Cross River Basin Development Authority is to refund ₦3.5 billion for failing to present 731 payment vouchers from 2019; the FIRS is to recover ₦41.4 million from them in unremitted stamp duty for a 2019 contract, the EFCC is to investigate ₦278.8 million in contingencies hidden in contracts from 2014–2019, the FIRS to conduct a back-duty tax investigation for contracts between 2019 and 2020; while they are to submit a formal undertaking to avoid late rendition of audited accounts.
Also, the Police is to verify claims that contract files were destroyed during the #EndSARS protests, while the EFCC is to investigate ₦169.1 million allegedly paid in compensation for the Bunyiaa-Akatom Imuan Dam project.
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is to recover ₦27.1 million for unauthorised foreign travel payments to staff, while the FIRS is to recover ₦12.4 million in unremitted VAT on contracts.
Also, the Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi (Bayelsa State) is to refund ₦32.1 million due to advisory negligence in awarding a construction contract on unsuitable land, while the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy is to refund ₦4.8 million paid for unapproved international training in South Korea.
The committee report also said that the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria should be cautioned for spending ₦10.2 million on an external solicitor without necessary approvals; while EFCC and ICPC are to recover ₦7.2 million overpaid to a contractor for office building construction the National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC), Lagos.
The Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company is to 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 and recover ₦7 million in under-deducted stamp duties from 2019 contracts.
The FIRS was directed by the committee report to recover ₦4.3 million in unpaid withholding tax from the National Film and Video Censor Board; refund ₦20.2 million spent on unauthorized police training programs, while the EFCC is to investigate ₦18.5 million and ₦43.5 million in potentially fictitious contracts and refund ₦27.2 million spent on unauthorized international travels.
The Police Service Commission was recommended for sanction for exceeding approved mobilisation limits, totaling ₦110.8 million, without required guarantees, the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation is to refund ₦71.9 million for unauthorised virement, provide evidence of ₦198.1 million tax remittances and refund ₦123.7 million and ₦149 million spent on unapproved international trips.
Other agencies who are either to make refund to government or cautioned include Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Federal Medical Centre, Bida; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Department of ICT, Nigeria Police Force HQ; Ministry of Labour and Employment; Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom
The Committee stressed the need for the various anti-corruption agencies to investigate, recover, and enforce compliance across the implicated institutions, adding that there was 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).
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, adding 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.