By Hope Donalds, JKNewsMedia Reporter
MORE THAN thirty federal ministries, departments, and agencies have been indicted by the House of Representatives over financial infractions totalling N103.8 billion and $950,912.05, following a motion adopted on Tuesday.
The sweeping indictment arose from the findings of the Public Accounts Committee, which reviewed the Auditor-General’s annual reports for the financial years ending 2019 and 2020.
The probe exposed internal control failures, unauthorised expenditures, and widespread non-compliance with financial regulations across key government institutions.
Lawmakers resolved that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pursue the recovery of all misappropriated funds and ensure their return to the federal treasury.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was cited for unauthorised payments related to a presidential lodge project at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
It was directed to refund over N124million and nearly $795,000, alongside other flagged sums including N31.7million and $155,923 spent without appropriation.
Additional instructions included recovering N49.4million paid for renovation outside procurement procedures and N9.2million disbursed without documentation.
The Bank of Agriculture faces scrutiny over N75.6billion in unpaid loans.
The House ordered the publication of the debtors’ list in three national dailies and tasked anti-corruption bodies with ensuring full recovery, including N350million due within 90 days.
The Nigeria Correctional Service must remit N7.47million in outstanding withholding taxes.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) was ordered to retrieve eight official vehicles and four others allegedly retained by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
NEPZA was also flagged for procurement violations worth N12million, with disciplinary action recommended.
Kwali Area Council was questioned over N82million paid to 105 unnamed individuals.
The former chairman was directed to recover and remit the funds to the treasury with evidence of compliance.
The Nigeria Customs Service must collaborate with the Accountant-General’s office to detail all credited items in Federation and Non-Federation Accounts to enhance fiscal transparency.
At the Rural Electrification Agency, auditors uncovered N1.3billion in questionable spending.
The former managing director was ordered to refund N394million spent on unapproved electrification projects.
Other violations included N4.2million spent on unauthorised publicity and N969million wrongly moved to the Eurobond ledger.
The Veterinary Council of Nigeria was instructed to recover N1.1million in unremitted stamp duties and remit N19million in outstanding internally generated revenue and overpayments to relevant government accounts.
Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited was directed to refund over N1billion, including N95million in unremitted taxes.
The former managing director was mandated to recover N250million from contractors and staff, and remit nearly N700million in procurement advances and trade debts.
Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc. was found to have paid N14.4billion in unauthorised salaries and allowances.
The committee ordered a full recovery, plus an additional N432million from under-deducted employee benefits.
A separate N91.5million spent on ICT procurement without NITDA clearance was also to be refunded.
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources was ordered to refund N12.3million in unauthorised cash advances, N373.4million for unapproved virements, and N66.7 million spent without a prepayment audit.
The House also demanded the recovery of a Toyota Prado (Reg. No. A1803FG) from a transport officer within 21 days.
Other MDAs not individually named were also cited and mandated to refund varying sums to the federal treasury.
The House adopted the PAC report, calling for rigorous enforcement by the EFCC, ICPC, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The committee further urged that agency heads be empowered to appoint external auditors where governing boards are absent.
Lawmakers proposed either an amendment to the Financial Regulations or a directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Presiding Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, commended Rep. Bamidele Salam and the Public Accounts Committee for a “thorough and impactful” investigation.
