SENATE INDICTS 37 MDAS OVER FINANCIAL INFRACTIONS, ON 2016 AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT

06/04/23

Shina J O

The Nigerian senate has indicted 37 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government
In the 2016 Auditor General of the federation report over various financial infraction and procedures

This follows the adoption of the senate committee report on Public Accounts
presented by Senator Matthew Uhrogbide.

According to senator Uroghide 92 MDAs were issued queries, 80 submitted written responses and appeared before the committee to defend their queries but did not appear before the committee while , four failed to either appear nor submit written response to the committee despite several reminders from senate public accounts.

Out of the over 80 MDAs that appeared before the committee, 43 had their queries vacated while the queries of 37 MDAs were sustained and recommendations accordingly presented to the Senate.

The MDAs that failed to submit written submission and did not appear before the Panel are Federal Ministry of Health, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, National Orthopedic Hospital, Kano, Nigeria National Merit Award, Abuja.

Some of the 37 MDAs whose queries were sustained include
Accountant General Of The Federation, Federal Ministry Of Information, National Population Commission, Ministry Of Labour, Ministry Of Defence , NDLEA, Ministry Of Finance , FIRS, Budget Office

According to the chairman of the committee, it took the panel over one year and half to come up with the findings and recommendations as well as punishment to the infractions

He lamented that, various reports from the auditor general office has not been implemented since 1999 and yet these agencies come yearly to the national assembly for appropriation

He added that the auditor general ‘s report of 2015 sent to president Buhari for implementation, was expected to recover five trillion naira from MDAs and civil servants yet no agency has responded to the report and some of them told the national assembly that they will not appear to defend the monies already spent

He further stated that as it stands the reports of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are yet to be submitted by the auditor general to the national assembly for proper scrutiny