Reps Committee Orders Federal Character Commission to Refund N88.4 Million
…Summons VON DG to Appear Before PAC Over N400 Million Audit Query
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to refund the sum of N88.4 million to the Federation Account, following unresolved audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
The resolution was reached during the Committee’s hearing on Wednesday, where the FCC, represented by its Acting Secretary, Dr. Fred Chuks Okoye, appeared before the lawmakers.
The Committee also adopted the Auditor-General’s recommendation, holding the FCC Chairman and other key officials personally responsible for the infractions, and demanding evidence of repayment.
According to the Audit report, the Commission was expected to respond to eight audit issues, but discussions focused on four major concerns. These included:
– Extra-budgetary spending amounting to N88,413,926.60
– A prepayment audit infraction of N60,252,492.24
– Payment of N76,930,284.33 for a substandard project executed by a contractor
– Breach of procurement procedures in a transaction worth N19,340,600
The Committee expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by the FCC’s top officials.
Only issue one was adequately addressed during the session.
The Committee then unanimously ordered the commission to refund the sum of N88.4 million to the Federation Account.
PAC also ordered that the Executive Chairman of the Commission must appear personally in the next invitation.
In a related development, the PAC also summoned the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace to appear in person over audit queries involving over N400 million.
Their representatives, who had earlier appeared before the Committee failed to provide sufficient information to address the queries.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Bamidele Salam, said both officials are expected to appear on a date that will be communicated in due course.
