Senate probes NNPCL, NIMASA, 772 others

Senate probes NNPCL, NIMASA, 772 others

Olaitan Ogundele

The Senate is probing the financial records of 774 federal agencies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, based on the queries raised against them in the 2019 report of the Auditor General for the Federation.

The Chairman, Senate Public Account Committee, Aliyu Wadada, disclosed this on Friday in Nasarawa State, while speaking with journalists.

He said, “We are currently looking into the books of 774 MDAs to see what was appropriated to them and check whether they judiciously utilized the funds.

“As events unfold, we shall be compiling our reports every quarter and we will be making them public after their adoption by the Senate in plenary.”
Despite the move, Wadada noted that his committee was not out to witch-hunt anyone, but to discharge its responsibilities diligently in the country’s best interest.

He said the 10th National Assembly with the support of President Bola Tinubu and critical stakeholders in the nation’s economy would soon embark on the amendment to the 2007 Procurement Act to curb financial infractions before they occur.

According to him, “If financial reports are not well documented to produce the required results in an audit, something would go wrong. We are seriously working on the assignment before us. So far, some levels of achievements have been recorded and we are still engaging with heads of ministries, departments, and agencies of the Federal Government.

“They are still appearing before our committee to answer the queries they have against them as far as the 2019 Auditor General’s report is concerned. That’s the situation at the moment.

“There are also status inquiries where we are looking into the financial transactions of revenue-generating agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others which are before us for scrutiny,” he stated.

He, however, appealed to leaders at all tiers and heads of government institutions at the federal, state, and local government levels to embrace the spirit of self-discipline and fear of God in the discharge of their responsibilities.
(PUNCH)