According to the 2018 report of the Auditor General for the Federation, AuGF, the Senate has ordered the Federal Ministry of Works to reimburse the nation’s coffers a staggering amount of N692 million that was reportedly spent on bogus contracts. The Red Chamber made its judgment after carefully examining the report from its Committee on Public Accounts, which revealed that a contract for N343 million was improperly and without justification issued for the purchase of project monitoring cars.
The report states that another contract for N139 million was given out for services, the acquisition of auto parts, computer accessories, photocopy machine components, and the design of the nation’s roads and bridges.
According to the report, N210 million that was intended for a documentary was allegedly divided into N130 million and N80 million and deposited into a staff account, in violation of financial rules.
The Senate panel, led by Senator Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), claimed it sent multiple invitations to the Ministry of Works to respond to the claims made by the Auditor General for the Federation but received no response from the concerned parties, which, in his opinion, kept the questions alive.
The queries read:
“Audit observed that the sum of N343 million was paid for the purchase of 36 project monitoring vehicles without following due process.
“Further examination revealed that the 36 vehicles were not received into the store as there was no document to show such delivery.
“Audit observed that advances in the sum of N139 million were granted on service and direct purchase of vehicles spare parts, computer accessories, photocopying machine parts for the design of Nigerian roads and bridges.
“There was no store record of those items to show that they were purchased.
“Audit observed that N210 million meant for documentary was split into N130 million and N80 million paid into a staff account contravening FR 713.
“Further examination revealed that the sum of N130 million was purportedly used for the capture of developmental projects, which included other ministries like Finance, Agriculture, Transport, Petroleum Resources, Mines and Steel, Trade and investment.
“There was no receipt or retirement particulars attached to the payment vouchers to justify the payments.
“The approval for the sum of N80 million was made to the Director of Finance and Account, which was above his approval limit.
“There was no evidence to show who the producer of the documentary was, or whether they were selected on a competitive basis.
“There was no evidence to show the work was actually done.”
In light of this, and in accordance with the advice of its committee, the Senate upheld the inquiries and directed the ministry—through its permanent secretary—to account for the money and return it to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
cc: Daily Post Ng
