Nigerians who are already frustrated by all the corruption cases heard in the media but yet to reach any logical conclusion in our courts will be further saddened by the latest disclosure by the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura.
According to the Nation, the Auditor General released audited accounts of the Government for 2014 exposing financial recklessness that took place in 2014, the last full year of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Here are some of the major highlights.
NNPC non remittance of crude oil sales
“From the examination of NNPC mandates to CBN on Domestic Crude Sales and Reconciliation Statement of Technical Subcommittee of Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting held in January 2014, amount not remitted to FAAC was
N3, 234,577, 666,791.35
Gas sales not remitted to Federation Account
“Review of sales profile on sale of gas to NLNG ($235,685,861.31) was not paid to the Federation Account but transferred to some undisclosed Escrow Accounts. Relevant documents were not made available for verification.
Sales profiles ($316, 211,227) on gas in respect of Gas Export Sales due to the Federation were stated to have been paid and received through the NGL Funding Account. No statements or documents were made available to confirm the receipts as well as the utilisation of these payments made through the named account.”
Financial infractions by the government in 2014
“Withdrawal of N922, 429, 182 from Husked Brown Rice Levy as loan given to Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to finance 2015 elections.
“About N7billion Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) Levy was withdrawn as loan given to INEC to finance 2015 elections. Expenditure is contrary to the purpose of the fund, which is to fund Destination Inspection Service Providers.
“Direct deductions from FGN shares in respect of 1% Police Reward Fund(N5,199, 864, 234). There was no evidence of accounting for the utilisation of this fund.
“Non-disclosure of N10billion expenditure of Subsidy Re-investment (SURE-P) in the Consolidated Development Fund Statement.
“Ministry of Niger Delta. Lots of funds through illegal withdrawals. About N803, 165, 879.78 was withdrawn through three illegal withdrawals as follows: N300m(3/9/2014); N305, 073, 540(17/9/2014) and N198, 092, 339.78( 19/11/ 2014). Beneficiaries not stated/ indicated.
“National Assembly. N9,514,568,222.62 payments were made without raising payment vouchers at the Management Department, which is a violation of Financial Regulation 601.
“Personal advances granted to 112 staff from recurrent votes and 50 members of staff from General Service Vote from July to December 2014 for various purposes all amounting to N1, 162, 009.305”.
Diversion of N73.5 billion
- N36,432,423,968.73 was released to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the rehabilitation and construction of dams instead of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
- N2,894,531250.00 was spent on the procurement of hand sanitizers for schools and critical public places.
- N31,324,952,239.87 was paid for subsidy on fertilizer and youth employment in agricultural programmes.
- N2,395,851,978.00 was approved for Group Life Assurance Premium for Armed Forces budget in 2013, but not cash backed.
- N500,000,000 payment for agricultural programmes.
- N500million payment for schools agricultural programmes
“These were variances with the purpose of the fund. No evidence of these lines of expenditure in the 2014 Appropriation Act,”
Haiti Earthquake
“The aftermath of Haiti earthquake in 2010 led the Nigeria Red Cross to coordinate fund raising to assist Haiti victims. The total sum remitted to Nigeria High Commission, Kingston-Jamaica was US$4, 901,006. 16.
“The fund was to primarily finance a project in Haiti with a view to alleviating the suffering of the victims and promoting greater cooperation between the two countries.
“A Nigeria-based contractor was awarded a contract to build a school in Haiti at the area not affected by earthquake at the contract sum of $2, 333, 420.89 in which 50 % of the contract sum was advanced(US$1, 166, 710.04 without due process.
“Physical inspection of the project revealed that the project is at foundation stage and not more than 12% completion stage in October 2015 even though execution was suspended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Project Coordinator was awarded a contract of US$366, 160 with the sum of US$192, 408 paid.
“The Nigerian High Commission officials were indebted to the fund to the tune of US$ 552, 629 as at the time of audit in October 2015.
“The fund was invested in fixed account and yielded accumulated interest of $147, 831.89 which was withdrawn and cannot be accounted for.
“The balance in the account as at the time of audit in October 2015 was US$2, 890,656.5 credit.
“As at the time of inspection, there was no evidence of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nigerian and the Haitian Governments for the construction of the school. More so, the location of the school was not affected by earthquake in 2010. Therefore, the purpose in which the money was given cannot be achieved.
“Acquisition and payment of a N3, 630, 000,000 property for Petroleum Equalization Fund(PEF) Head Office building at Kado District without Certificate of Occupancy(C of O).”
Source: Parts of this article were sourced from The Nation
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The future is mortgaged.